Freedom from Domestic Violence Fund
Donation protected
Thank You everyone who has donated! Honestly, whether from fear or insecurities, we didn't think we would get any support. Domestic violence is a terrible thing that can strip you of you're identify, self worth, and ability to trust others. It hasn't been easy trusting people.
The road ahead is still very long but I feel positive that my Mom and Uncle Mike can get through this. Happy Holidays and God Bless!
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Hi, I'm LeeAnn Tagami. Janet and Larry Van Dolah are my parents and this is my Uncle Mike. He's sitting next to a wall, well, where a wall use to be in his living room before my Dad tore it down in a rage.
On Monday, November 20th, I received a phone call from my Mom, and as she tried to stay calm she proceeded to tell me my Dad has been violent with her and my Uncle Mike, it's getting bad, and if they doesn't leave she thinks he might kill her. What she told me next would change the course of my holiday week and the rest of my life. My mom told me that my dad has been beating her, raping her, has hit her with her car...twice, choked her, further threatening to kill her, and has even held a knife to her brother's throat (my Uncle Mike who lives with them). There is so much more she told me, like how he threw her and Mike out of the car out in the middle of nowhere on the way to my brother's funeral in a fit of rage and then forcibly made them get back in the car.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I called the cops to get a patrol officer to her house immediately in case he came home early. I live in Texas and they live in North Dakota, so safety is my primary concern. Luckily an hour later she left with Mike and went to a hotel.
This week has been chaos but I'm so proud of my mom. She has spent the last few days in a hotel and managed to file for a restraining order against my dad. After everything she has been through she got the courage to file charges with the DA. Ask this on Tuesday afternoon.
I want everyone to know, my Dad is ok. However, he did take most of the money out of the bank account. Money that was supposed to be auto-drafted to pay for the mortgage, money for food, gas, and the heat, it's winter in North Dakota.
So those of us who have been helping my Mom and Mike, we have been helping. My Aunt Karen paid for multiple days in a hotel and my husband and I got cash to her, creating her own bank account in her name; but we can't sustain this alone.
On Thanksgiving, she got word the house was empty so she checked out of the hotel. I am so glad she didn't spend the holiday in a hotel, she ate at my brother's house. However, when she returned home she did find that wall torn down.
My Mom is living in fear now. I'm am praying that together, friends and family can pool together enough money to get her food and gas money, enough anyway to get her to her appointments and to keep the heat on. The rest we will figure out. Maybe we can get her down here you Texas for Christmas so she and Mike can relax.
Can you please find it in your generous hearts this holiday season to give a smidge to help my Mom and Uncle Mike get through this transition, or just share the story.
Happy Holidays!
LeeAnn Tagami
The money will be used primarily for food and gas initially as they have none. Update: money is absolutely needed for housing and basic necessities right now. Not only has my father drained the bank accounts but he went out and bought a new car.
Photos:
1-This is my Uncle Mike. He suffers for debilitating seizures his whole life, they have completely destroyed his mental state. He's a great guy but needs to be watched almost 24/7. He was threatened with physical harm and then with a knife to the throat. He is sitting next to the wall my dad tore down a few days ago while they were hiding out at a hotel.
2-This is my Dad. The man I thought loved my mom more then life itself. The thing is, I've seen him get upset recently and I've seen my mom get unusually quiet, but because I've never known them to fight, other then verbal bickering, I never thought anything of it. Looking back now I can see her fear.
3-This is my mom Janet. She is helpful, caring and can carry on with the best of them. To see her lose her spark and now know why breaks my heart. She broke her elbow earlier this year. Now I question how that happened, she told me she fell.



The road ahead is still very long but I feel positive that my Mom and Uncle Mike can get through this. Happy Holidays and God Bless!
_________________________________________________
Hi, I'm LeeAnn Tagami. Janet and Larry Van Dolah are my parents and this is my Uncle Mike. He's sitting next to a wall, well, where a wall use to be in his living room before my Dad tore it down in a rage.
On Monday, November 20th, I received a phone call from my Mom, and as she tried to stay calm she proceeded to tell me my Dad has been violent with her and my Uncle Mike, it's getting bad, and if they doesn't leave she thinks he might kill her. What she told me next would change the course of my holiday week and the rest of my life. My mom told me that my dad has been beating her, raping her, has hit her with her car...twice, choked her, further threatening to kill her, and has even held a knife to her brother's throat (my Uncle Mike who lives with them). There is so much more she told me, like how he threw her and Mike out of the car out in the middle of nowhere on the way to my brother's funeral in a fit of rage and then forcibly made them get back in the car.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I called the cops to get a patrol officer to her house immediately in case he came home early. I live in Texas and they live in North Dakota, so safety is my primary concern. Luckily an hour later she left with Mike and went to a hotel.
This week has been chaos but I'm so proud of my mom. She has spent the last few days in a hotel and managed to file for a restraining order against my dad. After everything she has been through she got the courage to file charges with the DA. Ask this on Tuesday afternoon.
I want everyone to know, my Dad is ok. However, he did take most of the money out of the bank account. Money that was supposed to be auto-drafted to pay for the mortgage, money for food, gas, and the heat, it's winter in North Dakota.
So those of us who have been helping my Mom and Mike, we have been helping. My Aunt Karen paid for multiple days in a hotel and my husband and I got cash to her, creating her own bank account in her name; but we can't sustain this alone.
On Thanksgiving, she got word the house was empty so she checked out of the hotel. I am so glad she didn't spend the holiday in a hotel, she ate at my brother's house. However, when she returned home she did find that wall torn down.
My Mom is living in fear now. I'm am praying that together, friends and family can pool together enough money to get her food and gas money, enough anyway to get her to her appointments and to keep the heat on. The rest we will figure out. Maybe we can get her down here you Texas for Christmas so she and Mike can relax.
Can you please find it in your generous hearts this holiday season to give a smidge to help my Mom and Uncle Mike get through this transition, or just share the story.
Happy Holidays!
LeeAnn Tagami
The money will be used primarily for food and gas initially as they have none. Update: money is absolutely needed for housing and basic necessities right now. Not only has my father drained the bank accounts but he went out and bought a new car.
Photos:
1-This is my Uncle Mike. He suffers for debilitating seizures his whole life, they have completely destroyed his mental state. He's a great guy but needs to be watched almost 24/7. He was threatened with physical harm and then with a knife to the throat. He is sitting next to the wall my dad tore down a few days ago while they were hiding out at a hotel.
2-This is my Dad. The man I thought loved my mom more then life itself. The thing is, I've seen him get upset recently and I've seen my mom get unusually quiet, but because I've never known them to fight, other then verbal bickering, I never thought anything of it. Looking back now I can see her fear.
3-This is my mom Janet. She is helpful, caring and can carry on with the best of them. To see her lose her spark and now know why breaks my heart. She broke her elbow earlier this year. Now I question how that happened, she told me she fell.
Organizer
LeeAnn Tagami
Organizer
Harvey, ND
