Help Michelle Keep Her Kids!

Two years ago, these two incredible kids entered our lives as well as our hearts. Our very own home town girl, Michelle opened up not only her home but opened her heart. Over night, she chose to take in these kids and get them out of New Jersey’s foster care where they were being neglected. She took them in with the hope that their mother and father could take the time to get their lives together and be able to reunite with them and be the parents that these kids deserve to have. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Their parents decided to surrender their rights, as they didn’t want to be parents any more. At this point, Michelle decided that’s she was going adopt both kids and provide them with a home and life that they’ve always wanted and deserved. It hasn’t been an easy road for them but she has done everything in her power to make the adjustment smoothe. Both children were born with a very rare disease called Tuberous Sclerosis, which affects their bodies physically and mentally. They also both have cardiac, eye, and neurological issues as well as other physical and mental issues which have been challenging on them. While in the foster care in New Jersey their medical needs were not being met, so when they were put into Michelle’s care it became up to her to get them back on a healthy track. Medical and dental bills have been piling up putting a financial strain on them. Michelle has given her all to these kids, not only emotionally but financially as well. She has tutors, therapists, day camps, before care, not to mention all of their doctors. She has filled their bedrooms with everything they could have ever imagined. When they showed up at her door step they came with a trash bag each of their belongings and the clothes on their backs. These kids had nothing.The girl was very under weight, malnourished and had also been physically abused in one of her foster homes. The boy ran away from his fourth foster home after being treated like he wasn’t even a human and being separated from his little sister who was all he had left.In the last two years, they have grown, thrived, and made a life with new schools and friends and a community that cares deeply for them. Two days ago, Pennsylvania and New Jersey caseworkers came for their monthly visit with this lovely family and informed Michelle that she is in jeopardy of having both children removed from her care before the adoption process is complete. They told her that she failed her adoption home study because her renter’s insurance wasn’t up to date which is a requirement for foster families to have. That threw up red flags to New Jersey. They now seem to think that because she no longer has a roommate like she’s had for the first year and a half the kids were with her, that she no longer can afford to provide for them financially. Since the kids are from New Jersey they unfortunately are the ones that are calling all the shots. They seem to think by putting them back into the foster system they have a chance to get adopted by a family that is financially put together rather than Michelle, who’s a hard working single person. Michelle works full time, parents full time, and is a great friend to all and a big part of this community. She has provided so much more for these kids than just money, she’s provided them with love, support, safety and stability. She has given them more than any of us could ever imagined. So please help this amazing family stay together, what ever you can contribute will help them greatly. Michelle has stepped up to the plate many times, helped where it was always needed and has been an outstanding friend to all, it’s time we give back and show her how much we want them to stay together. Everything contributed will go directly to these kids and help with any lawyer fees that she’ll need to show the state of New Jersey that she is not fighting this alone. If you can’t contribute, please repost and let’s make this go viral. No family should have to go through being ripped apart at the mercy of the state that believes that making a family is all about money.