My name is Ariel Boykin, and I’m a mother fighting to bring my children home. I am currently trying to raise money to cover legal fees and travel expenses so I can regain custody of my kids, who are now in state custody. When I was younger, I had two children with an older man. After our relationship ended, he took advantage of my situation and kept my children from me. He moved to Nevada and raised them there, cutting off contact for years. I was not allowed to see them or even speak to them, and he frequently changed his number and location, making it impossible for me to find them.

Now that my children are older, they have reached out to me and shared the truth about their living situation. They have told me about abuse, alcohol issues in the home, and how they’ve had to run away multiple times. Recently, they ended up in the system after one of them ran away again. As soon as I heard from my son, I used the little money I had to travel to Nevada, but by the time I arrived, my daughter had already been found and placed into custody. I tried to work with their father, but he refused to let me take them. After returning home to St. Louis, I learned that the state had taken custody of both of my children.

I am now doing everything I can to bring them back home where they belong—with me. In 2022, I lost my mother, grandparents, and aunt all to cancer in the same year. I don’t have family support to help me financially, which is why I am reaching out. Asking for help is not easy, but I will do whatever it takes for my children. If you can donate anything or even share this, it would mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can give.