Bring Daisy Home: A Mother's Plea for Justice

My name is Blake, and I’m a mom fighting to bring my daughter Daisy home. For the past four months, I have been denied any contact with her — not because of anything I’ve done wrong, but because of court delays and interference that are keeping us apart.

Before this, Daisy and I had a healthy, loving co-parenting arrangement with her dad, Ryan. We shared time equally, and Daisy was thriving. In March 2025, Ryan left for basic training. We had a verbal agreement, approved by Ryan, that I would continue caring for Daisy Monday-Friday and Tamra, Ryans mother, could keep her on the weekends. This schedule was planned a month or 2 in advanced and ran by Tamra a couple times to ensure she understood and agreed as she would be caring for Daisy on the weekends.

That agreement was only honored by Tamra for one day before she picked Daisy up from school (without my knowledge or consent) and slowly tried to cut down me and Daisys time together. I filed for interim custody and was granted it on April 7th 2025. Tamra acting as Ryan’s POA, went to file to dismiss it, she also filed to have our usual judge on Ryan and I’s case who has seen us through it all from 50/50 to helping us with our co parenting schedule, to a judge who had no idea about our case. This last hearing was on April 18th and this was the last time I’ve seen my daughter despite Tamra assuring the judge that she would not keep Daisy from me and I would still be seeing Daisy.

I filed every motion I could — for emergency custody, for modification, for reinstatement, emergency visitation/emergency make up time, Show of Cause, to have this judge recluse off my case due to unfairness, bias — and provided proof of my attempts to see Daisy.

We were finally set to have court on August 15th at RST Tribal Court in Rosebud SD, but Tamra went in on August 11th and filed for a continuance and the judge granted it to her August 12th and I was informed August 13th. Claiming that she needs time to “seek legal consultation” - while she has kept my daughter from me for 4 months. If I am not able to get a lawyer I will have to wait until October 10th when the judge set the next hearing, which will then be half a year that I have not seen my daughter. This is the longest I have EVER gone without seeing my daughter.

I have attempted 18 times to contact Tamra to see my child and she has ignored every attempt. She has openly admitted to Daisys father, that she is choosing to ignore me, this is something I’ve also filed with my proof and documentation also and has been overlooked. For 4 months I haven’t seen my oldest child, I haven’t hugged her, kissed her, seen her beautiful smile or heard her say “mom” - and if this continues the way Tamra is trying to make this - it will be half a year in October for the next court date and half a year that I’ve gotten to see my daughter. This is something no mother should have to endure especially when all of the documentation and proof and still being pushed aside in this tribal legal system that I trusted to put my daughter’s best interest FIRST. I missed her Kindergarten Day. I’ve missed months of bedtime stories, hugs, and milestones. If nothing changes, I’ll also miss her 6th birthday. The damage to our bond is something no child should have to endure. This situation is not in Daisy’s best interest and is harmful to her. And my parental rights are actively being violated.

I’ve spoken with an attorney out of Valentine NE, who is ready to help, but the cost is $1,500. I am starting a new job with the Head Start RST program, but I do not have the funds upfront to hire legal help before more precious time with my daughter is lost. Every dollar raised will go directly toward legal fees to secure my rights and bring Daisy home.

If you can’t donate, please share this story. The more people who know what’s happening, the more chance Daisy and I have to be reunited.

From the bottom of my heart — thank you for reading, for supporting, and for helping us fight for the chance to be together again.

Goal: $1,500