Help Disabled Mother with Legal Fees

Beth Sheldon-Badore (aka Melting Mama to the bariatric community) has had a tough go of it. Beth is a strong, proud woman and the mother of 7 children, including 20 month old twin girls. Two of her very young children have developmental delays.

She and her high school sweetheart had been together for nearly 27 years and they've managed to get through some significant challenges, not the least of which was Beth's past 14 year battle with intractable epilepsy. She is unable to work or drive and has been dependent on her husband's income(s) and the small amount of SSDI she receives monthly.

A year ago, her husband abruptly left the family and moved out to start a new life. This left Beth with having to manage the daily household responsibilities and 3 very needy young ones basically alone. Her parents had moved into an in-law apartment with them over 4 years ago to help out and they are now on call 24/7 since he left.

Beth had hoped that she and her husband would be able to work out a mutually beneficial co-partner/living arrangement in their home to continue to share the responsibilities of raising the 4 youngest children. After one year, it is clear that he has no intention of that ever happening. In fact, he is now in the process of selling the very home that they all live in. They have no idea where they will all end up.

At this time, it is clear that Beth has to get the help of a good lawyer to protect her and her children. The legal retainer fee alone to get this started is $7,000 (plus $395 an hour above that amount). Because her case is financially complicated, she cannot get much help from legal aid groups. Her parents are on a fixed income and sunk their life savings towards the purchase of this home.

If you can help Beth in any way to cover her legal costs, it would be greatly appreciated. She does not want to even do this, but those of us who love her and the children know she's up against it. Thank you in advance for your support.