School rallies behind refugee family after child's death

Published: 2008-02-14

PHOENIX (CNS) -- Undaunted by the poverty that surrounded his short life, Andrew Lin wore a smile his friends still remember. "He was a big hugger. He would wrap himself around you," said Alice Fuentes, a member of the eighth-grade class at St. Jerome School. The class adopted Andrew, his parents and six siblings when they migrated from Myanmar in 2007. But the family's journey took a devastating turn Jan. 25 when Andrew was hit by a car while crossing the street near his home and later died. He was 13 years old. The Lins arrived in the United States with the help of Catholic Charities several months ago. Before that, they survived eight years at a refugee camp in Thailand. Many ethnic minority Karen families, like the Lins, have fled to that country to get away from the oppressive regime ruling Myanmar. Alice's class raised more than $31,000 for the family early in the school year and helped the Lins adjust to everything from English to electric hair dryers.

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