<div>Hi, my name is <strong>Cassandra Grimaldi</strong>, and I’m the proud mother of <strong>seven beautiful children</strong>, ranging in age from just <strong>6 weeks old to 15½ years old</strong>.
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<div>I’ve fought tooth and nail to give my children a <strong>safe, stable, and loving home</strong>—through the darkest moments of facing <strong>homelessness, unemployment</strong>, and the exhausting realities of <strong>single motherhood</strong>. I <strong>never gave up</strong>.
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<div>Today, with the love of my <strong>husband of 4 years</strong>, the generosity of <strong>my in-laws</strong>, and the strength of a<strong> tight-knit community of friends</strong>, we’ve built something I once only dreamed of: <strong>a peaceful, nurturing home</strong> where my kids are thriving. I’m also working toward a better future by pursuing my <strong>nursing degree</strong>, and I begin <strong>clinicals and classes on August 19th</strong> during regular school hours so I can be present with my kids before and after school hours.
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<div><strong>I have an incredibly hard time asking for help</strong>—but for my children, <strong>I’ll do anything that’s right and within the law to protect them.</strong>
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<div><strong>Today, I’m not asking for help for myself—I’m asking for them.</strong>
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<div>Because now, <strong>just one day before Nursing school starts</strong>, I’m facing a <strong>legal emergency </strong>that could take<strong> two of my children away from spending 80% of their time with me</strong>—and<strong> I urgently need your help.</strong>
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<div>These two children of mine—<strong>ages 8 and 11</strong>—are from a previous marriage. <strong>Their father</strong> has a long<strong> history of abuse</strong>:<strong> physically in the past</strong>, and<strong> now emotionally, verbally, and financially</strong>. For the past <strong>five years</strong>, their father has done everything in his power to <strong>disrupt our lives</strong> and <strong>damage my relationship</strong> with them.
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<div>Here’s just a <strong>small fraction</strong> of what we’ve<strong> endured</strong>:
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<div><strong>Refusing to return the children</strong> after his parenting time
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<div><strong>Blocking my number</strong> on their devices so they can’t contact me directly
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<div><strong>Filing repeated CPS reports</strong>, all of which have been dismissed
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<div><strong>Him moving across state lines multiple times</strong>, with no long-term housing (in and out of their lives)
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<div><strong>Trying to unenroll them from school</strong> without my consent
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<div><strong>Yelling at me </strong>when I called just to say goodnight to our daughter and son using her smart watch—something as simple and loving as a bedtime call turned into a moment of stress and hostility
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<div><strong>Speaking negatively about me in front of the children</strong>, causing confusion and emotional pain
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<div><strong>Body-shaming our daughter</strong>, calling her “fat” or “heavy,” and pressuring her to lose weight during visits, making her feel <strong>self-conscious and anxious</strong> about her appearance
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<div>This isn’t just difficult co-parenting—it’s a <strong>pattern of parental alienation and emotional harm</strong>. A judge has already found him in <strong>contempt of court</strong> for violating the custody order by keeping the children from me.
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<div>I’ve <strong>followed every legal recommendation</strong>. I <strong>hired a lawyer</strong>. I’ve <strong>shown up to every hearing</strong>. But now, just<strong> 18 days away</strong> from my next—and possibly final—<strong>court hearing on August 18th</strong>, my attorney had to <strong>withdraw</strong> because I can no longer afford the remaining <strong>$8,000 in predicted legal fees</strong>, and I'm already $<strong>2,000 behind in services rendered</strong>.
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<div>I’ve already had to <strong>put nursing classes on hold </strong>to pick up work. My <strong>mother-in-law gave us a personal loan</strong>. My husband and I are doing everything we can while <strong>raising seven kids</strong>, including our <strong>newborn daughter</strong>, whom I’m still breastfeeding.
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<div>But I <strong>cannot keep placing the financial burden</strong> on those who have already sacrificed so much for us. And I am not <strong>willing to let lack of funds </strong>be the reason my children <strong>lose their stable home</strong>—<strong>or their emotional safety</strong>.
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<div>I <strong>applied for Legal Aid</strong>, hoping for help—but they’re so <strong>overwhelmed with cases</strong>, they told me they <strong>can’t take mine</strong>.
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<div>Some days, it truly feels like, because <strong>my ex has money</strong>, he can <strong>legally steamroll me into the ground</strong>. It’s like he’s trying to <strong>wear me and my loved ones down until we give up</strong>. And the court system lets him keep going. <em>It feels so </em><strong><em>wrong</em></strong><em>.</em>
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<div>I’ve already<strong> put parts of my education on hold</strong>. My <strong>mother-in-law gave us a personal loan</strong>. My husband and I are raising seven children—including a newborn I’m breastfeeding—while I try to finish school and work just to cover legal bills.
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<div>But then I had my baby, and now <strong>I can’t work anymore</strong>.
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<div>We’re doing<strong> everything we possibly can</strong>, but we <strong>can’t do this alone anymore</strong>.
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<div>This is about more than <strong>legal parenting schedules and custody</strong>. It’s about <strong>breaking the cycle of emotional damage</strong> and ensuring my children have<strong> peace, stability, and unconditional love</strong>.
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<div>I’m trying to raise funds to:
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<div><strong>Hire a new family law attorney immediately</strong>
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<div><strong>Prepare for my hearing on August 18th</strong>
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<div><strong>Protect my children from ongoing emotional manipulation and instability</strong>
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<div>Even a small donation—$10, $25, $50—can help us take this last step toward justice. And if you <strong>can’t give</strong>, please <strong>share this campaign</strong> with someone who might be able to.
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<div>If you’ve ever felt like the<strong> system favors those with more money</strong>—please hear me now. I’m a<strong> mother fighting to protect her children</strong> from a situation that is <strong>damaging and deeply unfair</strong>.
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<div>They should have a<strong> relationship with their father</strong> and I have<strong> never stood in the way </strong>of that. But they should have a<strong> stable home without</strong> being moved around every other week. Children need to be able to <strong>put down roots and have stability</strong>.
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<div>Thank you for taking the time to read our story and <strong>stand with me and my family</strong> during the most difficult fight of my life.
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<div><strong>With love and deep gratitude,</strong>
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<div><strong>Cassandra Grimaldi</strong>
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Days Left to Protect My Kids – Help Me Secure Legal Support

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Days Left to Protect My Kids – Help Me Secure Legal Support

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