Help me get my daughters where they belong.

Hi everyone. Typing this out is hard- obviously, this situation has gotten bad, or I wouldn’t be raising the money. In November, after giving my ex plenty of notice, I moved to Alabama. I was in love with a good man, TC Johnson, and he wanted to give my children and Myself a life that was much less stressful. He was calm, patient, and unrepentantly supportive- which is a wonderful change from my previous relationships that can only be described as tumultuous. Trumbull County Ohio is a region without much of a future- with rising unemployment and a serious drug problem, crime rates are rising, and the neighborhood I lived in was deteriorating quickly. I wanted better for my daughters and I, and TC wanted to give that to us. I was not in a good place living there- my ex was still in control of everything in my life, I wasn’t allowed to manage any finances, nor was I allowed to be around friends or family. After much discussion, my ex and I decided to have him keep the girls for a month so they could transition schools during winter break, while I moved down in November. I trusted him to be a good father, and to keep his word- I also offered to help cover his expenses and find a job nearby, so he could remain active in his role as the girls father. I have always believed in co-parenting, and think kids do better with both parents in their lives. I made the mistake of trusting him. Within days of my moving, he applied for full custody, under the pretense of abandonment. His ex parte order was denied, but a hearing is required to close the case. That hearing has now been extended to well over a year, with bitter insults and accusations a plenty. Motion after motion has been filed, with plenty of blatant untruths on his side- yet, because we are not in the county that this case is being held in, Ive not been given any opportunity to answer to these claims. He has the hometown advantage, and the charming behavior that most abusers possess, and it’s worked in his favor. For the first time ever, the girls were allowed to visit Alabama. During that time? We heard countless stories of verbal abuse, neglect, and horrendous parenting. Both girls confided that they didn’t want to live in Ohio anymore, but are too afraid to tell their father for fear of being punished. Since their return to Ohio, they’ve called me every night, almost always in secret, sobbing because they miss it here- they miss not being yelled at, or made to feel inadequate, or being told to forget they have a mother. Every photo of me has been removed from their house, and their father has done everything he can to alienate me. He punishes them for talking about me- and that’s when he even has them. He has pawned the girls off on my parents for weeks at a time, because this whole custody ordeal isn’t about actually spending time with them- it’s about getting back at me for having the audacity to leave. I’m starting this GoFundMe because things are getting hopeless. We can’t afford to keep fighting, even though this should’ve an obvious custody win- he has the home court advantage, and has been willing to lie and manipulate in the courtroom- whereas I have had faith that my parenting should be enough to win. We need to keep this fight going, we need to pay lawyers to continue the battle to give my daughters what they deserve. They deserve a life without fear, with a future, and without being alienated from their mother, who has ALWAYS been their primary caretaker. I know everyone is struggling right now. I understand that. If you cannot donate, it’s fine, and I’m not upset with you. If you don’t want to get involved, I understand that as well- this is a very messy situation. But if you are willing and able, there are two little girls- and one grateful mother and stepdad, who would very much appreciate your help.