For as long as I can remember, Sae Joon Park has been a part of my life, shares Brontë Shedden, Administrative Assistant at Denver Presbytery. Though not related by blood, he has always been my Uncle Sae—a beloved member of a tightly knit circle of family friends who have stood beside each other through every milestone and hardship. My dad, Mike Shedden, and Uncle Sae grew up together in Los Angeles, forming a brotherhood of friendship that’s lasted over 40 years. Together with a small group of equally close friends—whom I’ve also called my uncles—they’ve shared everything: marriages, births, grief, joy, and countless ordinary days that built an extraordinary bond.
So when we learned that Uncle Sae was being deported, it struck us like a second wave of grief. We had just said goodbye to Uncle Mark, another member of this lifelong brotherhood, and now we were losing someone else who had always been part of the fabric of our family. I was able to see Uncle Sae one last time in California while attending Uncle Mark’s funeral. He stood tall, full of grace and strength, even in the face of heartbreaking separation. Despite the distance, he still checks in with us every day—his spirit unwavering—but what we all want most is for him to come back home, to be with his children and to care for his elderly mother.
This has been an incredibly difficult chapter for our family. But I believe that sharing his story—with honesty and love—can open hearts and make a difference. The more people who know Uncle Sae’s story, the more hope we have of bringing him back where he belongs.