Graysen and Shanny Recovery Fund
Donation protected
*** UPDATE ***
Dear amazing Team Gray tribe: As a direct result of your generosity, Shannon and Graysen are on their way to better days! Sustained happiness and security are on the horizon.
In a text this week, Shannon said: "Wow I'm in tears! I am so very grateful to everyone who has donated. It really does feel like a weight has been lifted! I'm staying super focused, getting plenty of sleep and most importantly keeping Graysen on a routine. He's eating so good and has started loving reading books. He's a new kid and is super happy right now. Having that financial weight off my shoulders has completely eliminated the questions in my mind about what I can do or not."
I am so impressed with her grit and determination, with her good humor. The progress she has made in the last few weeks is astonishing and directly related to the support she received from YOU, our tribe! New financial challenges related to this incident keep rearing their head, and it's incredibly frustrating to watch a victim (my words, not hers) endure the responsibility of making things right.
But our sister can feel stabilized by our continued well wishes. If you haven't had a chance to show Graysen and Shannon your support, I invite you to take a moment now. It is not about the amount, it's about sending happy thoughts of "You are not alone".
THANK YOU sincerely to everyone. Our family is profoundly grateful and enriched by your presence.
Much love!!!
------------------------------
Hello, Dear One! Thank you for taking this moment to consider a difficult story.
My little sister, Shannon would like to introduce you to her son, Graysen: 
Graysen is the epitome of a sweet 3-year-old boy with a kick of spice. He is going to be a train conductor some day and promises to take mom and brother on rides to show us all the big bridges. His love of playing dress up has brought many joyful moments to the family as he whips his capes around shouting, “Super Graysen to the rescue!” 
Such a magical age.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Although we may be separated by miles, although you may have just met Graysen and Shannon or haven’t seen them in years, you can stand in solidarity with the plight of an innocent mother and child who urgently need our help to address the devastating effects of mental illness, addiction, and domestic violence. 
THE STORY
On a recent Friday night, Shannon and Graysen were winding down for bed when there was a fearful knock at the door. Shannon recognized the upset yelling on the other side as Graysen’s dad**. Confused by his unexpected visit and worried he may be in trouble, Shannon unlocked the deadbolt.
The door flew open and Shannon was pushed aside in a flurried instant, this man scooping up his startled toddler before running out of the house and back to his car, speeding off into the night with Graysen. Shannon recalls that her son reached out for her and called, “mommy?!” Later, in a state of shock, she remembers her baby wasn’t wearing shoes or a coat.
The events that followed are too unbelievable and traumatic to recount here, but police officers finally extracted Graysen almost 24 hours later from a cash-only motel room in another jurisdiction. Graysen had been sick. His pajamas were soaked with vomit and urine. He was hungry and dehydrated and he had a temperature of 102. Shannon and Graysen were advised to hide at a friend’s house until police could make an arrest because the man made it clear he would continue hunting for his son.
THE BACKGROUND
Graysen’s dad was diagnosed with bipolar, schizoaffective disorder in 2017, possibly aggravated by a long-standing opioid addiction. Sadly, his mental health has been in steady decline. Shannon's concern increased and family worries escalated after several incidences in recent months.
Shannon had made generous arrangements for Graysen to have supervised visitation with his dad (grandmother present) before this. Although he was known to be a loving father, during this episode he was not taking prescribed anti-psychotic medication and suffered from acute delusions and paranoia. Shannon had no way of knowing.
Life is different now for every one.
THE PRAYERS
Thankfully, Graysen is with his mom at this time and for the moment they are safe. The dad is being held in a county jail for, among other charges, physically assaulting his own mother in front of Graysen during the events of this nightmare. But it is likely he will be released before much longer.
My family feels desperate and helpless. Our hearts are broken for little Graysen. Waves from this kind of trauma can rock the boat even years after the storm has passed.
We pray that Graysen be spared lifelong effects from this terrible tragedy. We pray Graysen’s dad gets the help he desperately needs. We pray that he leave Shannon and Graysen in peaceful safety. We pray that Shannon be granted the strength to endure yet another incredible life setback.
THE ACTION
Shannon is scrambling, in a state of trauma and fury and fear, to address the immediate requirements for securing Graysen’s future safety: filing protective orders and amended parental paperwork, consulting with attorneys, writing letters to the court- and also seeking mental health and social service resources for Graysen and herself. Meanwhile, she must continue to work full time to support herself and her two boys. She is fierce, but she has a very long road ahead.
This is where YOU become part of the story!! The happy next chapter.
It really does take a village. It takes a tribe.
Together we can remove financial ruin from the long list of challenges Shannon is now faced with. For example, she must pay for the $3000 screening to determine whether the dad is mentally fit for parenthood. The attorney she would love to work with has a $1500 retainer fee and proceedings could easily add thousands more dollars. There are many unfair and immediate expenses.
Will you help Shannon and Graysen secure the best representation, access high quality mental health care services, pay expensive court fees, and possibly seek emergency lodging should she need to flee again to safety? 
This is not about a specific amount- the platform required us to set a goal. This is also about pledging our love and good intentions to our brave sister and her little boy. It is the gesture of assuring one of ours that we help each other in times of crisis.
Please, please donate what you can today.
Let us show Shannon and Graysen the incredible support of their tribe and usher them into a new life of prolonged and profound security.
Your help WILL make the difference!
These are the moments in life that matter.
Thank you. 
** This campaign aims to address Graysen and Shannon’s immediate safety. The father’s name has been intentionally omitted and the family kindly asks that you refrain from placing focus on actions caused by his tragic illness as we look positively, steadily forward.
Dear amazing Team Gray tribe: As a direct result of your generosity, Shannon and Graysen are on their way to better days! Sustained happiness and security are on the horizon.
In a text this week, Shannon said: "Wow I'm in tears! I am so very grateful to everyone who has donated. It really does feel like a weight has been lifted! I'm staying super focused, getting plenty of sleep and most importantly keeping Graysen on a routine. He's eating so good and has started loving reading books. He's a new kid and is super happy right now. Having that financial weight off my shoulders has completely eliminated the questions in my mind about what I can do or not."
I am so impressed with her grit and determination, with her good humor. The progress she has made in the last few weeks is astonishing and directly related to the support she received from YOU, our tribe! New financial challenges related to this incident keep rearing their head, and it's incredibly frustrating to watch a victim (my words, not hers) endure the responsibility of making things right.
But our sister can feel stabilized by our continued well wishes. If you haven't had a chance to show Graysen and Shannon your support, I invite you to take a moment now. It is not about the amount, it's about sending happy thoughts of "You are not alone".
THANK YOU sincerely to everyone. Our family is profoundly grateful and enriched by your presence.
Much love!!!
------------------------------
Hello, Dear One! Thank you for taking this moment to consider a difficult story.
My little sister, Shannon would like to introduce you to her son, Graysen: 
Graysen is the epitome of a sweet 3-year-old boy with a kick of spice. He is going to be a train conductor some day and promises to take mom and brother on rides to show us all the big bridges. His love of playing dress up has brought many joyful moments to the family as he whips his capes around shouting, “Super Graysen to the rescue!” 
Such a magical age.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Although we may be separated by miles, although you may have just met Graysen and Shannon or haven’t seen them in years, you can stand in solidarity with the plight of an innocent mother and child who urgently need our help to address the devastating effects of mental illness, addiction, and domestic violence. 
THE STORY
On a recent Friday night, Shannon and Graysen were winding down for bed when there was a fearful knock at the door. Shannon recognized the upset yelling on the other side as Graysen’s dad**. Confused by his unexpected visit and worried he may be in trouble, Shannon unlocked the deadbolt.
The door flew open and Shannon was pushed aside in a flurried instant, this man scooping up his startled toddler before running out of the house and back to his car, speeding off into the night with Graysen. Shannon recalls that her son reached out for her and called, “mommy?!” Later, in a state of shock, she remembers her baby wasn’t wearing shoes or a coat.
The events that followed are too unbelievable and traumatic to recount here, but police officers finally extracted Graysen almost 24 hours later from a cash-only motel room in another jurisdiction. Graysen had been sick. His pajamas were soaked with vomit and urine. He was hungry and dehydrated and he had a temperature of 102. Shannon and Graysen were advised to hide at a friend’s house until police could make an arrest because the man made it clear he would continue hunting for his son.
THE BACKGROUND
Graysen’s dad was diagnosed with bipolar, schizoaffective disorder in 2017, possibly aggravated by a long-standing opioid addiction. Sadly, his mental health has been in steady decline. Shannon's concern increased and family worries escalated after several incidences in recent months.
Shannon had made generous arrangements for Graysen to have supervised visitation with his dad (grandmother present) before this. Although he was known to be a loving father, during this episode he was not taking prescribed anti-psychotic medication and suffered from acute delusions and paranoia. Shannon had no way of knowing.
Life is different now for every one.
THE PRAYERS
Thankfully, Graysen is with his mom at this time and for the moment they are safe. The dad is being held in a county jail for, among other charges, physically assaulting his own mother in front of Graysen during the events of this nightmare. But it is likely he will be released before much longer.
My family feels desperate and helpless. Our hearts are broken for little Graysen. Waves from this kind of trauma can rock the boat even years after the storm has passed.
We pray that Graysen be spared lifelong effects from this terrible tragedy. We pray Graysen’s dad gets the help he desperately needs. We pray that he leave Shannon and Graysen in peaceful safety. We pray that Shannon be granted the strength to endure yet another incredible life setback.
THE ACTION
Shannon is scrambling, in a state of trauma and fury and fear, to address the immediate requirements for securing Graysen’s future safety: filing protective orders and amended parental paperwork, consulting with attorneys, writing letters to the court- and also seeking mental health and social service resources for Graysen and herself. Meanwhile, she must continue to work full time to support herself and her two boys. She is fierce, but she has a very long road ahead.
This is where YOU become part of the story!! The happy next chapter.
It really does take a village. It takes a tribe.
Together we can remove financial ruin from the long list of challenges Shannon is now faced with. For example, she must pay for the $3000 screening to determine whether the dad is mentally fit for parenthood. The attorney she would love to work with has a $1500 retainer fee and proceedings could easily add thousands more dollars. There are many unfair and immediate expenses.
Will you help Shannon and Graysen secure the best representation, access high quality mental health care services, pay expensive court fees, and possibly seek emergency lodging should she need to flee again to safety? 
This is not about a specific amount- the platform required us to set a goal. This is also about pledging our love and good intentions to our brave sister and her little boy. It is the gesture of assuring one of ours that we help each other in times of crisis.
Please, please donate what you can today.
Let us show Shannon and Graysen the incredible support of their tribe and usher them into a new life of prolonged and profound security.
Your help WILL make the difference!
These are the moments in life that matter.
Thank you. 
** This campaign aims to address Graysen and Shannon’s immediate safety. The father’s name has been intentionally omitted and the family kindly asks that you refrain from placing focus on actions caused by his tragic illness as we look positively, steadily forward.
Fundraising team: Team Gray (7)
April Evans
Organizer
Ogden, UT
Shannon Foster
Beneficiary
Aizik Rogers
Team member
Heather Evans Ramirez
Team member
Michael Evans
Team member
Nate Lishman
Team member