From Fear to Freedom: Help M Heal

UPDATE: A Room of His Own – and New Hurdles to Overcome
Today, with the help of a very special person in our lives, we were able to set up a proper bedroom for Malakai—with a new bed, mattress, and drawers. This small but powerful milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of everyone who has donated. Thanks to you, Malakai now has clothes, a cozy place to call his own, some Lego to build with, and even a secondhand PS5 we found on Marketplace. For the first time in a long time, he’s beginning to feel like a kid again. But while his world is starting to take shape, we’ve hit a tough new roadblock. Despite everything Malakai has been through, enrolling him in a local school has turned into a complicated legal issue. Because it’s unsafe for either of us to contact his father, we’re currently unable to obtain a required signature for school transfer. As a result, we’re stuck in “school limbo”—traveling 4–5 hours a day just to get him to and from school. We’ve tried every free legal service available, but the situation is too complex. I’ve now had to hire a lawyer to help us find a way through, and this comes with a high cost that we weren’t prepared for. We’re burning the candle at both ends, but we’re doing what we always do—facing it together, as a family. ⸻

MALAKAI’S STORY
 Hi everyone, I’m reaching out to ask for your support as my 14-year-old son, Malakai, continues rebuilding his life after surviving years of domestic violence. In May, Malakai came to live with us permanently after another serious incident with his father. The legal system failed him again, but we’re determined to give him the safety, stability, and love he needs to heal—and to thrive. When Malakai arrived, he had almost nothing. No clothes, no belongings, no sense of safety. Thanks to generous friends and donors, he now has the basics—but we’re still working to give him the things every teenager deserves. We’re raising $2,500 to help Malakai start over.
Your donations will go toward:
• Clothing and shoes – He still needs everyday clothes and 1–2 pairs of shoes.
• His bedroom – Already partially set up, but still needs a few finishing touches to make it feel like home.
• School-related costs – Transport to and from school (over an hour each way), and now unexpected legal fees.
• A birthday surprise – Malakai’s birthday is coming up, and we’d love to shift the focus from surviving to celebrating.
 • If we exceed our goal – We’ll replace a special item he had to leave behind, like his bike or a favorite collectible. Anything extra will go toward therapy, medical needs, and helping him pursue his dream of starting a small car detailing business—something he talks about all the time.

Malakai lives with ADHD, anxiety, and likely PTSD. But through everything—years of emotional abuse and trauma—he remains kind, funny, creative, and brave. He loves Lego, PlayStation, movies, and being outdoors. We just want to help him reconnect with those joys and give him space to be a teenager. He’s not asking for much—just a chance to feel safe, supported, and start fresh. We’re already 64% of the way to our goal. Your donation could help us cross the finish line and beyond. Every bit helps. Every share makes a difference.

Thank you for being part of Malakai’s journey. Your support means more than we can say.