A LaSalle mother is begging for the federal government's help.
CTV News spoke exclusively to Alishia Liolli’s mother Josie McDonagh on Saturday, just days after the tragic news that her daughter died after category 5 Hurricane Dorian hit the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas last Monday, where the family was last seen together.
McDonagh wants to get her daughter’s body back home and to contact her remaining family in the Bahamas.
Alishia Liolli, 27, was working as a special education teacher for the last six years while living in the Bahamas with her husband, her 17-month-old son and three step-children.
McDonagh says she hasn't yet grieved that loss as she continues to fight for her loved ones.
“I'm so heartbroken,” she says.
McDonagh says she is also fighting to get her 17-month-old grandson Evans, who is a Canadian citizen, back home.
McDonagh tells CTV News she doesn't think the Canadian Embassy hasn’t been doing enough.
“Let Alishia come home now and my grandson," says McDonagh. "Please do something about it.”
Global Affairs Canada states: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the loved ones of the Canadian citizen who has died in the Bahamas in the area affected by Hurricane Dorian. Canadian consular officials are providing assistance to the family at this difficult time. Out of respect for the family, no further information will be released.”
Windsor West New Democrat MP Brian Masse says his office has been in direct contact with the Minister of Immigration office and emergency consular affairs.
“In the immediacy, we need to a try to do our best to help the family's wishes in regards to Alishia. And the second thing is her son and the extended family are taking care of as well too,” Masse says.
“Those are very important things now and hopefully we get to a longer term solution with regard to their final settlement in Canada if those are their wishes," adds Masse.
McDonagh says she made a promise to her daughter and wants to fulfill it.
“I’ll be missing my daughter. She left my beautiful grandson Evan. I did promise her I would take care of him in case something happened."
A GoFundMe page has been setup for the family in an effort to bring Liolli’s body back to Canada.