Thanks for all the posts! I called MX and they were very supportive and clearly expressed that they would support us in any all ways if a situation ever arises…
Also, we found out that one of our old family friends relocated to Boston a year or two ago (for some reason it never came up in our conversations) and now I have a local contact/pseudo-aunt who would be there for me 
… So my parents are much less tense and AtriaDad is finally sending in the deposit ;)…