Dear friends, community, and compassionate strangers,

I are reaching out to ask for your support for a good friend of mine. She is an extraordinary mother and her two young children as they navigate an ongoing and deeply challenging crisis.

Meet the Family:

This is the story of a resilient, loving single mother—a quadriplegic and freelance creative—who has spent her life overcoming physical barriers and pouring love into her children. Her 8-year-old son, Lachlan, is a bright, funny, and deeply sensitive child who also lives with Type 1 Diabetes, a condition that requires constant monitoring, specialized equipment, and daily life-saving medication.

Recently, Lachlan was hospitalized for an ongoing mental health crisis. The experience, while necessary, proved traumatic and ultimately counterproductive. Though he has now been discharged, his condition remains serious. Lachlan continues to need intensive outpatient mental health care and 24/7 supervision to keep him safe and supported.

His mother, already managing her own complex medical needs as a quadriplegic, remains his full-time caregiver. She is unable to work while ensuring her son’s well-being, and the family has no current income or financial safety net.

Why We Need Your Help

This family is facing a convergence of urgent and ongoing needs. On top of the emotional toll of Lachlan’s crisis, they are overwhelmed by:

-Out-of-pocket mental health care costs, including therapy, evaluations, and future potential hospitalizations

-Essential diabetes supplies for Lachlan, including insulin, sensors, pump supplies, and emergency treatments—all of which are ongoing and expensive

-Medical expenses for the mother, including specialized equipment, assistive care, and medical supplies and medications that the family does not have insurance to cover

-Basic living costs such as rent, utilities, food, and transportation

-Care and stability for the older sibling, who also needs attention and emotional support

This mother has always put her children first, doing everything possible to ensure their safety and well-being. But now, she urgently needs help.

An Escalating Crisis

On Friday, May 30, 2025, a traumatic incident involving the Toronto Police Service occurred at the family’s home. Due to a miscommunication between Lachlan’s Diabetes Care Team and hospital staff, an order to temporarily pause the use of his insulin pump was not properly conveyed. Believing the device was being withheld, police forcibly entered the home using unnecessary force—even though all safety protocols had been followed.



Despite being compliant and having done nothing wrong, the mother was taken to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and was promptly discharged. During this time, police contacted Brandon (the children’s biological father), and their older son Keltonn was placed in his care. Brandon then discharged Lachlan from the hospital the following day. He is now unlawfully withholding both children.



The mother must now pursue urgent legal action to:



Secure the immediate return of her children through family court



Hold the Toronto Police Service accountable for negligence and abuse of power



Meanwhile, Lachlan has been hospitalized three times and was finally beginning to receive the critical mental health supports he needs. Further separation from his mother threatens to undo that fragile progress.



Additional Urgent Costs

Property damage: Police destroyed the family’s front door while entering the home. Despite their responsibility, current policy requires the family to pay for repairs upfront and seek reimbursement later. The door is so damaged that the home remains unsafe.



Building repair fees: The family has also been billed over $3,000 for damages to a shared space in their building connected to Lachlan’s second hospitalization.



Legal fees: Immediate legal representation is essential to bring the children home and begin holding the appropriate systems accountable.

How Your Donation Helps

Your generosity will directly support:

-Ongoing outpatient mental health care for Lachlan

-Emergency funds for future hospitalizations or crisis services

-Daily diabetes management and medical supplies

-Medical needs related to the mother’s disability

-Basic living expenses during this time of lost income

-Emotional and practical support for both children

Every donation—no matter the size—can make a life-changing difference for this family. And if you can’t give financially, sharing this campaign can help bring vital support from others who can.

Let’s come together to offer them the stability, safety, and hope they so deeply deserve.

With deep gratitude,

Retica