At the age of nine, Otis left Malawi in southeastern Africa to live with his mother in Washington State. Shortly after he arrived, his mother was diagnosed with cancer and for the next six years of his young life, Otis assumed the role of her caretaker. When symptoms were too severe, Otis arranged for her to get to the hospital and stayed home alone for days at a time. Otis often went hungry, sometimes living on Kool-Aid and Top Ramen.

Otis' future looked bleak and uncertain as his mother's cancer progressed. Risking deportation as his 18th birthday approached when it's more difficult to obtain documentation, Otis was referred to NWIRP. A NWIRP staff attorney was able to expedite a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Visa application for Otis, and it was approved just two weeks before he turned 18.

Now a Permanent Resident, Otis is flourishing. He obtained a driver's license, a job, and even bought himself a car – none of which he would have been able to do without permanent status. Otis will graduate from high school soon, and looks forward to a future filled with opportunities thanks to the help he received from NWIRP.