Russian family faces tragedy after arriving in U.S.

Leonid Lotsmanov, his wife, Irina, and their 3-year-old son Philipp, started the process more than a year ago to move from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Raleigh, because his wife always wanted to call America home.

"It was my wife's dream," Lotsmanov, 40, said.

Five days after arriving in the Triangle on April 26, though, 38-year-old Irina Lotsmanov began feeling tired.

"She had a cough. We decided that it might be pneumonia," he said.

Irina Lotsmanov was taken to WakeMed in Raleigh, where doctors diagnosed her with a blood clot. She died May 1.

Nearly a week after his wife's death, Lotsmanov says he's trying to focus on his boy.

A cardiologist, Lotsmanov plans to stay in the United States and raise his son. He says he'll look to find work in the nursing field.

"I decided to stay here because it was my wife's dream," he said.

Because he is new to the U.S., Jewish Family Services in Raleigh is working to help Lotsmanov by raising money to help him with funeral expenses.

Donations can be made to Jewish Family Services, 8210 Creedmoor Road, Suite 104, Raleigh, N.C. 27613. Checks should be made payable to Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary with "Lotsmanov family" written in the memo line.