A couple who moved to Derby hoping to start a new life as nurses have had their lives turned upside down. Ariene Vili, 34, and Mark Sabrick Remigio Audea, 35, moved to the UK from the Philippines in the hope that they would be able to practice as nurses at the Royal Derby Hospital.
They initially moved to Kingsway in Derby in 2022 when Ariene started working as a nurse while pregnant with the couple’s second child, while Mark trained to become qualified as a nurse. However, their lives changed forever after Ariene suffered a brain aneurysm that left her hospitalised for months.
Mark was also forced to quit his job to care for his severely ill wife, and as they are not entitled to benefits, the family has been relying on a fundraiser to keep them afloat. It all became increasingly difficult after Ariene gave birth to their son Chase whilst she was still in a critical condition.
Mark was left with no work, a newborn to care for on his own, and no way of getting any income. While Ariene is slowly recovering, she still has trouble moving the left side of her body, which means that Mark will work as a full-time carer when she returns home.
The couple flew Ariene’s mother to the UK so that Mark could start working part-time to pay for bills and food; however, six months later, Mark’s mother in law is running out of her visa, and the couple had no choice but to appeal to the public for help again.
The couple live in the UK on a working visa, with Mark as Ariene’s dependent. However, Mark hopes to change this as their visas are due to run out in August, with the hopes of both of them continuing to work as nurses in the UK.
Mark has managed to proceed with his training to become a nurse while working part-time at a care home. Yet Mark has also had to care for his newborn son and wife and ensure that his two-year-old son, who lives in the Philippines, is looked after.
Mark has said that if he is unable to get his mother-in-law’s visa renewed, then he will have to quit his part-time job in a care home to look after his family. Mark also stated that the family wanted to remain in the UK so that he could complete his training as a nurse, with the hopes of securing a job in the NHS once his training is complete.
Mark said: “I want to be able to get her an electric wheelchair so she can move around herself as she still can’t use the left side of her body. She is making improvements but it will take a lot of time. I don’t know what we will do, her mother’s visa runs out soon but we will struggle without the help.
“We are both worried about our situation. I don’t know what more I can do for us, but I am just grateful that my sons still have a mother. I am still happy I have my wife with me, but we don’t know how we will pay for food or bills.”
Mark added: “I want to move forward, but I need to look at how we can get some support but it’s all limited. We are hoping to just buy some time with our fundraiser because I am currently on minimum wage and it’s not enough for all of us. I worry for not being able to afford my bills or food for us. I just want to do everything I can but I am juggling so much. ”
Mark hopes that after passing his nursing exam, he will be able to get a job at the hospital which will allow him to earn enough for the family to live. However, while Mark is training, he will struggle to pay for his wife, new-born child, and his two-year-old son.
Mark expressed that he was reluctant to go back to the Philippines because he believed that doing so would mean giving up on his dream of becoming a qualified nurse.
Mark is urging anyone who can spare a donation to contribute to their situation. The link to Mark and Ariene’s fundraiser can be found here.