Evadne Percy already knows she won't be getting the gift she wants most for Christmas - but she's optimistic about the new year. Percy is trying to bring her two orphaned granddaughters to the U.S. The girls lost their mother and younger brother when Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada in September. "I was hoping to get them here by Christmas," said Percy, 51, who works as a hotel housekeeper. "Everything seems to take so long, but things are looking up." Percy, who lives in Prospect Heights, has retained a lawyer to help with paperwork as she applies to adopt her granddaughters. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will write a letter in the girls' behalf. "We strongly support the application and we'll be leading the charge to get Mrs. Percy's granddaughters into the country and into her care," said Schumer spokesman Blake Zeff. Percy said the girls are still complaining about the injuries suffered during the hurricane. Twelve-year-old Deleon was "spinning around in the air like a bird" during the hurricane, Percy said. In falling to the ground, the youngster lost four teeth and broke her jaw. "The rest of her teeth are loose," Percy said. "When I talk to her, she complains about the pain in her mouth." The older granddaughter, Tervana, 14, was buried in rubble when the family's home collapsed. "She still has swelling and a lot of headaches. She's been given medication, but she still complains of dizziness," Percy said. The girls are now with relatives in the British Virgin Islands. "I'm planning to send them some money for Christmas," Percy said. "I'm hoping and praying that with the help we are getting now, they'll soon be here." The Educational Foundation of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave Percy $1,000 Friday. "We realize there are a lot of expenses," said Roy Hastick, president of the chamber and a native of Grenada. "We wanted to help during the holiday season to make it more joyful." Hastick said the chamber is also sending supplies and Christmas toys to Grenada, where 90% of the island's 89,000 residents lost all or part of their homes during Hurricane Ivan. Reprinted from nydailynews.com