Help Ashley Cantrell Reunite with Her Nieces and Nephews

My name is Ashley Cantrell I’m 29 years old with 1 son (11) and work full time, born and raised in Cleveland Ohio until my father moved us to Florida in 2011. Little back story, I have 3 brothers no sisters my mom died when I was 5 my oldest brother terry was 10 other older brother Austin was 6 and my youngest brother Tyler was 2. Father died in 2020. We didn’t have a great childhood after our mom died our father became an even worse alcoholic (ultimately what caused his death) and left us with different family members whenever he got the chance and when he did have us he was abusive. There was never a calm day in our household. So our lives were not the best also not the worst thanks to our babysitter and Our aunts and uncles being there for us when they could. Now to the point I am raising money to get a lawyer for family court. The pictures are of my nieces and nephews. (Bryson 10, Ivan 9, Ellena 9, Kalel 7, Kara 7) 2 sets of twins. I’m going to go into what’s going on and why I need a lawyer. So these kids are all my babies they grew up with me. The mother and father (my brother Austin) were in and out of the kids lives since they were born. Like the youngest kids Kara and kalel called me mom because they didn’t even know their mom. The oldest Bryson asked me multiple times if he could call me mom he said it was because he felt like I was his mom. Even at our last visit Bryson being 10 said do you remember I asked if I could call you mom and asked me again if he could. So anyways The mother chose drugs and the father was back and forth between Ohio and Florida working while I had his kids in Florida. He would come to FL on his off time to visit his kids. He was a good father and would do anything for his kids. He loved his kids so much I’m sure he still does. The mother was never there she always came and went until eventually she just left and decided she didn’t want to come back. So being a single mother of 6 kids with no family to help in Fl I decided to bring the kids to Ohio in 2021 after about 4-5 years of having them. It was getting hard after loosing my dad, so I figured we would move to Ohio and the father could constantly see his kids and everything would just work itself out. So together Tyler Austin and I decided it would be best to get a house together me to watch the kids and them to pay the bills and be there and help with the kids. Well after a few months I decided to get a job because I couldn’t stand not having money of my own. Everything was going great the kids were happy and healthy and doing good my brother was finally able to be with his kids and be a full time dad and it finally seemed like stuff was working out. After about a year I fell in love and decided it was an okay time to try and start my life with the love of my life and my son with plans to still come around and help when I was needed. After I moved out, the kids mother (was in jail in Fl) contacted Austin and said she was clean and wanted to be with her kids. My brother having lost his mom didn’t want that life for his kids he thought everything would be fine if she moved here. So he moved her here when she got out of jail after a few months she started doing drugs again after awhile he started doing drugs with her also. In his mind he thought for some reason he could help her get clean by doing them with her (stupid I know, Austin has like a hero complex tries to save and forgive everyone) so he ended up addicted to drugs with her because he wasn’t as strong as he thought he was to get off of them. Well child protective services got involved (Austin downplayed it completely to me and Terry) and eventually took the 5 children and placed them into foster care splitting them up. I was told my house was not big enough (after about the 3rd court hearing) (3 bed) and my brother Terrys house wasn’t either. I annoyed the crap out of the case worker until I was able to get visits with my babies. My heart was broken knowing I couldn’t just take them home with me. At the visits things went great the kids were good we played ate and talked at the end of the visits of course the kids would cry and not want to leave. But I did want to try and adopt them because I love them kids like my own. (I hate that I left them kids with anyone I regret it daily) but so I was working with cps getting visits and in the meantime I was taking classes for fostering/adoption so I could adopt them. At this time the parents stopped making an effort to get the kids back. Even when they were it was minimal. (I’m not trying to talk down on my own brother) but so I finished the classes and cps still wouldn’t give me the kids they gave me the run around when I was trying to figure out why I couldnt have the kids eventually in court it came out that my house was to small, I was living with my spouse my son and her daughter so I get that a 3 bed was to small. I decided to move and get a bigger house since that was the only thing stopping me from getting the kids (because that’s all cps would say as to why I couldn’t have them) So I moved into a 4 bedroom house just my son and I. So there would be room for the kids and between all of this my ex and I talked and decided she wasn’t ready to start over with 5 more kids her daughter is 18. So I get it I wasn’t going to force this on anyone. It’s a lot. So we broke up. So here I am with enough room now for the kids cps came did a home study then I was able to have at home visits with the kids. The case worker tells me “be excited this is definitely going to happen the kids will be coming to live with you how will you get them to and from school your cars to small” so my brother terry helped me get a 3 row suv so I could fit all of the kids. Now there was no excuse for me not to get the kids (I did the classes I got the house I got the car I have a job passed the background check) court was set for may 27th for the state to get permanent custody but they switched the court date to may 1st and didn’t say anything to me at all. Now they have permanent custody of all 5 kids. My last visit with the kids was supervised by the case worker (she said nothing about then changing the hearing) and was on April 30th Ivan and Ellena’s 9th birthday. The visit went good we played I cooked them food had cake and presents. Everything was falling into place or so I thought. The day after the visit may 1st the case worker calls me and said we just had court the state has permanent custody of the kids and you don’t get to see them or talk to them anymore due to the judge placing a no contact to bio family order. I wanted to understand why so I bothered everyone until they set up a meeting which took place today at 1pm with the case worker and her supervisors they said the judge placed the order because of the kids behavior and because the judge don’t think I can take on the 5 kids with the behavioral issues. I am completely devastated. My heart is broken. I can’t stop crying. Like how do I move on from losing my kids. How in the hell is god or my mom just up there watching these kids and I go through so much torture and heart break. I can’t explain how bad this hurts seriously. So as for my last option I’m going to file for custody. I’m going to try and fight this as much as I can. But with all the new bills I have I can’t afford an attorney at the moment. Life is just difficult right now. I’m working as hard as I can and yet still doesn’t seem good enough. So this is my last option my last hope to get these babies. Please donate what you can anything at all is appreciated. Or if you know a lawyer that is pro bono and willing to help. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story!!