Hello, my name is Mia Lewis I am the maternal grandmother of two beautiful boys, ages 7 and 2. Their mother, my only daughter Hannah, has been incarcerated since her youngest was just three months old. When she was taken, her baby was abruptly separated from her while she was still nursing. That moment changed all of our lives.

I received a call from DCFS/ChildLink to pick up my grandsons from the police station. Of course, I went immediately. I have loved and cared for them since that day.

At the time, I was recovering from a whipper surgery and living in a hotel because my basement had flooded with three to four feet of water, causing mold and mildew damage throughout my home. My insurance or FEMA did not cover the damage, so I had to pay out of pocket for repairs. Even through this hardship, I did everything necessary to make sure my grandsons were safe and loved.

After having them for a couple of weeks, I was told they couldn’t stay with me in the hotel. They were suddenly taken from me and placed elsewhere for three months. I worked tirelessly, moving into an apartment, and then back into my restored home, to meet every requirement so that I could bring them home again. I finally did — in January 2024 — and they have been with me ever since.

Unfortunately, the caseworker assigned to my family has made this journey incredibly difficult. She openly told me from the very beginning she would take the children. Despite my compliance, care, and love, she ( agency ) has now recommended to the court that my grandsons be removed from both me and my daughter — and possibly adopted by strangers.

This has broken my heart.

I am simply a grandmother fighting to keep her family together.

DCFS has outsourced our case to a private agency , which means their internal limits prevent them from intervening much in this matter. Because of this, I urgently need to hire a private family attorney who can step in and represent us in court within the next couple of weeks.

Legal fees are expected to cost between $6,000 and $10,000, and I am humbly asking for your help to reach this goal

Every contribution — no matter how small — will go directly toward securing legal representation to keep my grandsons safe, loved, and within their family where they belong.

If you cannot give, please share this page and keep us in your prayers.

Your kindness, compassion, and support mean more than you know.

From the bottom of my heart,

Thank you.

— Mia