Graciela is 72 years old and a citizen of the U.S. She came to this country over 60 years ago as a young girl. She married her childhood sweetheart, like her, a naturalized U.S. citizen, and had three children with him. 23 years ago she buried him, after cancer attacked. Despondent, widowed and alone save for her three children, she barely managed to get up every morning, go to work and be there for her children who, like her, were devastated by the loss of their hero, their father.

Although Graciela’s husband worked hard while he was alive and had medical insurance, it was not enough to cover the costs of his long term illness. His medical bills left Graciela greatly in debt, putting the couple’s home at risk. Shortly thereafter, further, unimagined disaster struck: Graciela’s oldest daughter learned that she, too, had cancer. As with her husband, Graciela cared for her daughter, again stretching her finances to the limit, for her daughter’s medical insurer would not cover the full costs of the much needed treatment. Five years ago Garciela buried this child.

After so many years of pain and loneliness Graciela was recently introduced, through trusted friends, to Pedro, a wonderful 72 year old widower with grown children, who grew up in Graciela’s home country of Argentina but immigrated to New Zealand as an adult. Starting out as friends they discovered that they had much in common. Their friendship blossomed into love, later into discussions about marriage and spending the rest of their “golden years” together. However, the issue of immigration has now reared its ugly head and the couple is at loss as to whether they should marry.

Why, you ask, should immigration be an issue, for Graciela is a U.S. citizen and Pedro is in the U.S. legally? Shouldn’t this be simple to resolve? Unfortunately, no. You see, Pedro lacks medical insurance and at age 72, with the medical history of a prior heart attack and hence a pre-existing medical condition, he is not easily insurable. Without such medical insurance Graciela is terrified that if he becomes ill she, as his wife, will now become responsible for the overwhelming costs of his medical care and that she will become bankrupt and destitute. Such fear is made even more real by her understanding of the forms that she must sign to sponsor him for a green card—the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. By signing this form, Graciela promises to repay the U.S. government, if asked, for the full costs of any public benefit, such as Medicaid, that he may receive.

Graciela is sleepless; she must make a decision soon, before Pedro’s tourist visa ends. Should she take a chance “on love”—a financial chance? Should she gamble that Pedro will remain healthy and decide to reach for love, happiness and companionship in the next decade (or perhaps more) of her life? What would you do? Write and tell Graciela and Pedro your thoughts as Graciela struggles to make this difficult decision.