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If you are a parent or grandparent, you know that children are the light of the universe. I find myself in tragic circumstances and need your support. My name is Jeff Coutts and I need your help to adopt my grandsons- Jaxon and Izzy.
On Thursday, February 26th, 2015, I learned that my beloved daughter Stephanie was a missing person. On Sunday, March 1st, I was informed by the Coroner's Office in Clark County , Nevada that Stephanie was dead. She was twenty-nine years old.
I immediately went to Las Vegas to attend to the heartbreaking details. I then went to California where my grandsons Jaxon (aged 9) and Izrahel (nicknamed Izzy, aged 7) were staying with Izzy's paternal grandmother. It was up to me to tell my young grandsons of their mother's passing after which I intended to bring the boys back to Denver , Colorado , the home they'd known for nearly all of their lives.
Stephanie - a single mother - and her sons had lived with me since Izzy was an infant. I knew firsthand how difficult it was to be a single parent as I myself had been a single father, raising Stephanie and her older brother on my own for twelve years, thus I did all I possibly could to offer a loving, stable home to the boys, a devoted grandfather doing the fathering. In addition to all the everyday parenting chores, I infused my grandsons' lives with my own passions: a love of music, cooking and the great outdoors. Our trio was happiest hiking and biking in Colorado .
My daughter and my grandsons were my life and I, theirs. Having lost my own father at a young age, I was determined to model love, affection, healthy living and communal citizenship, the latter of which I learned and lived while serving on submarines in the United States Navy.
Last July, seeking new adventures, and wanting to live near the ocean, Stephanie and her sons moved to California ; Stephanie had planned on temporarily living with Izzy's paternal grandmother until she could get on her feet and find an apartment of their own. I was heartbroken to see them leave Colorado , but proud of Stephanie's self-confidence and her assertion for independence.
Now, in the midst of my own agonizing grief, I need to be stronger than ever before for my grandsons. I'm currently in California , in a custody battle with Izzy's paternal grandmother, a women who sent the boys to school - without any counseling nor support - the very day after they learned that their mother was dead. I have only been able to see the boys for short amounts of time, on supervised visits, while they are grieving. Clearly, this situation is not in their best interests.
Though there has never been much influence nor interaction from either of the boys' fathers, nor is there any guarantee that the boys will be able to stay together if Izzy's paternal grandmother keeps them, she is fighting for custody of both boys, the motive of which appears to be the monetary gain as she had told Stephanie that she needed to move out , effectively evicting her and the boys from the home.
I have text strings from Stephanie to her network of friends in California desperately seeking a new place to live and now that Stephanie is gone the paternal grandmother of Isrehal is fighting me for custody of both boys?. Why?
It's difficult to ask for help, but I urgently need it. I have to pay for all the legal fees associated with an emergency hearing and custody proceedings as well as living expenses in California until I can leave with the boys. Moreover, instead of readying for my retirement, I will be raising my grandsons. The expenses ahead are daunting; the immediate concern is getting Jaxon and Izzy the counseling they need to deal with their staggering loss.
I know what is best for my grandsons. I know the life that Stephanie would have wanted for them.
These boys need to stay together as they only have each other, my son, Jake, their uncle and me left of their Mother, Stephanie.
Jaxon and Izzy need to be in a nurturing, supportive and healthy environment with a loving caretaker that can help them heal and grow. Please help me provide that for these precious boys.
Thank you all for your support and well wishes.
Up until the last 7 months, I was a caretaker of Jaxon and Izzy. From bathing and feeding the boys (we love to cook together), to putting them to bed or getting them ready for school-this was my everyday life.
As you can see from my Facebook page, I am and have been in their young lives since almost the beginning and am continuing this to raise these boys TOGTHER and in an environment where they will heal and grow into the men they are meant to be.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated more than you can know.
So if this story speaks to you, please send your love and support.
My email is [email redacted] if you want to share in the Life to come.
On Thursday, February 26th, 2015, I learned that my beloved daughter Stephanie was a missing person. On Sunday, March 1st, I was informed by the Coroner's Office in Clark County , Nevada that Stephanie was dead. She was twenty-nine years old.
I immediately went to Las Vegas to attend to the heartbreaking details. I then went to California where my grandsons Jaxon (aged 9) and Izrahel (nicknamed Izzy, aged 7) were staying with Izzy's paternal grandmother. It was up to me to tell my young grandsons of their mother's passing after which I intended to bring the boys back to Denver , Colorado , the home they'd known for nearly all of their lives.
Stephanie - a single mother - and her sons had lived with me since Izzy was an infant. I knew firsthand how difficult it was to be a single parent as I myself had been a single father, raising Stephanie and her older brother on my own for twelve years, thus I did all I possibly could to offer a loving, stable home to the boys, a devoted grandfather doing the fathering. In addition to all the everyday parenting chores, I infused my grandsons' lives with my own passions: a love of music, cooking and the great outdoors. Our trio was happiest hiking and biking in Colorado .
My daughter and my grandsons were my life and I, theirs. Having lost my own father at a young age, I was determined to model love, affection, healthy living and communal citizenship, the latter of which I learned and lived while serving on submarines in the United States Navy.
Last July, seeking new adventures, and wanting to live near the ocean, Stephanie and her sons moved to California ; Stephanie had planned on temporarily living with Izzy's paternal grandmother until she could get on her feet and find an apartment of their own. I was heartbroken to see them leave Colorado , but proud of Stephanie's self-confidence and her assertion for independence.
Now, in the midst of my own agonizing grief, I need to be stronger than ever before for my grandsons. I'm currently in California , in a custody battle with Izzy's paternal grandmother, a women who sent the boys to school - without any counseling nor support - the very day after they learned that their mother was dead. I have only been able to see the boys for short amounts of time, on supervised visits, while they are grieving. Clearly, this situation is not in their best interests.
Though there has never been much influence nor interaction from either of the boys' fathers, nor is there any guarantee that the boys will be able to stay together if Izzy's paternal grandmother keeps them, she is fighting for custody of both boys, the motive of which appears to be the monetary gain as she had told Stephanie that she needed to move out , effectively evicting her and the boys from the home.
I have text strings from Stephanie to her network of friends in California desperately seeking a new place to live and now that Stephanie is gone the paternal grandmother of Isrehal is fighting me for custody of both boys?. Why?
It's difficult to ask for help, but I urgently need it. I have to pay for all the legal fees associated with an emergency hearing and custody proceedings as well as living expenses in California until I can leave with the boys. Moreover, instead of readying for my retirement, I will be raising my grandsons. The expenses ahead are daunting; the immediate concern is getting Jaxon and Izzy the counseling they need to deal with their staggering loss.
I know what is best for my grandsons. I know the life that Stephanie would have wanted for them.
These boys need to stay together as they only have each other, my son, Jake, their uncle and me left of their Mother, Stephanie.
Jaxon and Izzy need to be in a nurturing, supportive and healthy environment with a loving caretaker that can help them heal and grow. Please help me provide that for these precious boys.
Thank you all for your support and well wishes.
Up until the last 7 months, I was a caretaker of Jaxon and Izzy. From bathing and feeding the boys (we love to cook together), to putting them to bed or getting them ready for school-this was my everyday life.
As you can see from my Facebook page, I am and have been in their young lives since almost the beginning and am continuing this to raise these boys TOGTHER and in an environment where they will heal and grow into the men they are meant to be.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated more than you can know.
So if this story speaks to you, please send your love and support.
My email is [email redacted] if you want to share in the Life to come.
Organizer
Jeff Coutts
Organizer
Denver, CO