<div>Saying 'Thank you' does not seem to be enough for such a life changing gift. For myself and for my Granddaughter. 
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<div>However, 'Thank you', is all I can say to each person who has prayed, shared and gifted us with the funds to facilitate the adoption of my granddaughter. 
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<div>The goal of $2000 was met and exceeded. A family member gifted me $1000 for Christmas, and it was put towards the adoption! 
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<div>As we have exceeded the fundraiser goal, I would like to be transparent as to what the additional funds will be used for. 
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<div>I have a little under $5300 in credit card debt from getting my grandkids. I have been paying it down for over a year. 
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<div>To give you some background, in November of 2022, I traveled to New Mexico from Missouri where I live. I came back with my grandkids ages 4 and 6 
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<div>My daughter, the children's mother needed me to care for the children. She was homeless, had no job, and as I was to discover when I traveled to get my grandkids, she was making some very poor choices in the things she was self medicating with. Over a year later, nothing has changed as far as I know. She hasn't contacted my granddaughter since June 2023. My granddaughter has been abandoned by her. 
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<div>To get to New Mexico was a three day trip by truck, gas, hotels, food, then when I got there, my granddaughter needed clothes, underwear, socks, shoes, I need booster seats for them. I spend over $500 to pay for my daughter's past due storage room, so she could get in to look for her identification. To no avail. So we needed to have 2 people witness a simple power of attorney document so I could get the kids medical and dental and enroll my grandson in school. Also I needed to have it so I could take the kids out of state. Ideally we would have gotten custody papers through the court, but without identification, documents couldn't be signed and notorized. I was in New Mexico several days, before heading back. 
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<div>Anyway, very long story short(er). Getting the kids back home, my grandson needed emergency dental work to get a tooth pulled, and he was eventually scheduled for surgery to pull two more teeth with root canals and crowns on all the remaining teeth. Bella was scheduled for the same surgery. (13 crowns). 
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<div>Then both kids were given eye exams as neither had the glasses they both desperately needed. I purchased them glasses. When I had the children before, they had glasses. 
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<div>Neither of the children while in their mother's custody had been to a doctor or dentist. They lived homeless. Mom had a boyfriend (now in jail for murder) who abused both children. 
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<div>So there were many doctor and other appointments, medical,  dental, physical, psychological, occupational. Immunizations. Specialists. 
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<div>Anyway, over about 9k was spent between the trip, medical, dental, clothes, shoes, school supplies, turning an office into a bedroom for both kids, dressers, and so much more. Add in food, as it took a while to get on SNAP. 
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<div>My savings were wiped out (my plan has been to purchase a home through USDA in June or July of 2023). My credit cards were maxed ($5500). 
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<div>My credit card that had the 5k balance started charging interest. Payments went from under $50 to over $170. At my current rate of payment, it is going to take me about 10 years to pay off. I'm trying to pay off the lower balance card, then roll that payment into the higher balance. 
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<div>Anyway. I need to apply any extra from the GoFundMe to the credit cards I used to get the children and provide their initial emergency needs. It is not being used frivolously at all. 
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<div>Both children were physically abused, medically neglected and have a lot of trauma. 
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<div>I haven't been able to work. First due to the kids, and then to months of medical issues (fall from my truck and a surgery) of my own. 
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<div>I'm currently applying for part-time positions. I'm hoping I'll be able to find work soon. I'm currently receiving disabled widows survivor benefits. I'm not able to work full time, or earn over a certain amount monthly, as I would lose my Medicare. My income this year was $1116 a month from SSDI. Needless to say, money was and is very tight. 
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<div>Please be aware, we have everything we need at this time for the adoption. Any further gifts will be going towards the debt incurred to care for my grandchildren. 
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<div>******
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<div>In order for 6 year old Bella to be secure, have a designated guardian and receive my social security survivor benefits, she has to be adopted. Otherwise, as a guardian, I can't have a say in who she goes to. There is always a chance she would be put back with her birth mother, which would be traumatic. 
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<div>In 2022, after being apart 2 years, I had to take an emergency trip 1000 miles away to get my then 4 and 6 year old grandchildren. My grandson is now with his father in another state.
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<div>In September my granddaughter and I went to the courthouse. We met with a Guardian Ad Litem, my attorney and a judge. The judge granted me permanent Guardianship of my granddaughter.
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<div>In order to ensure I can appoint a guardian if I die or become unable to care for 6 year old Bella, I will need to adopt her and appoint a guardian in my will. Otherwise my granddaughter will go into the foster care system when, or if I'm unable to care for her.
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<div>While I am giving her the love and stability she needs, providing for her with the help of friends and family, I need help to pay the attorney and court costs.
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<div>I have had Bella over a year and there has been no contact between her and her mother since June. I got one email, asking how Bella's surgery went, got no reply and nothing more than, 'How did surgery go?'.
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<div>In Missouri, 6 months of no meaningful contact, constitutes abandonment. Additionally, in the time I have had my granddaughter (almost 4 years cumulatively). She hasn't supported her daughter financially in any way.
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<div>Bell turned 6 the begining of December, with no contact from her mother. My granddaughter doesn't mention her at all.
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<div>My Granddaughter has been severely neglected and abused, by her Mother and the people she allowed to be around her. Now she has been completely abandoned.
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<div>My attorney laid out how much the adoption, uncontested, will cost:
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<div>Attorney Fee: $1000.00
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<div>GAL Fee: $200-$300 (depends on what the the Judge will award)
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<div>Service by Publication Cost: $240-$480 (set by the newspaper that receives publishing)
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<div>Total Cost is between $1440-$1780
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<div>The courts will waived court fees, and my background check should still be good. The home study, when ordered by the judge, will be done free by DSS.
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<div>PLEASE, share this GoFundMe, donate any amount. Help me reach the goal, so I can file.
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<div>I do not think there will be any other costs. However I set the amount needed at $2000 to account for any fees. My attorney will file when I am able to give him the publishing fees.
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<div>I'm glad I can count on you to to help share or gift us the fees needed!
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Patricia Mullins

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RichardandMary sheppard

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Mark Clough

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Lee Petry

Bella's adoption costs, emergency costs.

Bella's adoption costs, emergency costs.

Still $4,895 to go. Help us build momentum.