Help Emily Doré have a fighting chance ♥️
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This is incredibly hard for me but I really appreciate the people in my life who have prompted me to do this and those of you who have taken the time to read this.
I am a mother to two young boys (4 & 9) and have lived in Santa Cruz County my entire life. I work as a local real estate and family photographer. I have run a local children’s non-profit in Santa Cruz for the last 9 years and believe deeply in the importance of volunteer work. In recent years I have had to let go of the building of my business in order to be the full-time caregiver to my children while my husband attempted to change careers. My ability to maintain my business was diminished further when COVID hit and I was not able to enter properties or be in close proximity with families for the better part of a year. During that time, I was focused on the distance learning needs of my older son and the caregiving of my younger son and our household. I was happy to be the primary caregiver as well as the person who maintained the needs of our home but I had never anticipated that it would eventually leave me in such a defenseless position.
I have now arrived at a very vulnerable and scary place in my life and have been left with very few resources to protect myself and the things that support the best interests of my children. After 11 years of marriage our family broke. My children and I are heartbroken and I am doing all that I can to support them and care for myself as we go through the changes that come with the fracture of a family. This process is so painful and has so many complicated twists and turns. The most painful of these are the ones that came as a surprise and stole safety and trust from our lives.
I went into this believing that there were very clear agreements as to how we would handle issues pertaining to the children, the home and the finances. I truly trusted that we had the same goals and honoring each other’s importance in the children’s lives was at the forefront of these agreements. Unfortunately, this isn’t how it has worked out and the pain of this is nearly crushing. I am in a position where I need to reach out in hopes of being able to obtain resources that enable me to have the same level of advice and support that has been given to my children’s father. It was my hope that this would not be handled in this way, but that choice was taken from me. The direction that this has taken puts the best interests of my children as well as my role as their primary caregiver at risk. My interests, as their mother, should have an equal part in the decisions made.
I do not have the same access to funding. I also do not have family to help support me during this time. I have spent the last few weeks tracking down all leads that people have offered. I have had many free consultations, paid for a few and have used the self-help centers as much as I can. I have sought DV support and counseling in addition to regular counseling and am dealing with those issues while trying to manage daily life. All things lead to the need to hire an attorney to represent me.
I hate that this comes down to the need to hire an attorney. I never wanted this to be the reality of this situation but there is no way that I can hold my ground against the tactics being used against me. With a heavy heart and so much uncertainty, I have come here to humbly ask for support. Please consider helping me acquire legal assistance and support.
I will update and answer questions as best as I can as things move forward.
My strength now comes from my community and my friends. Thank you to those who have held me as I have fallen to my knees and those who have relentlessly reminded me of the strength that remains inside of me although I cannot feel it. Thank you to those who have brought food and sent thoughtful cards and gifts. Thank you to my incredible friends who have been by my side during difficult appointments and helped me navigate through some of the darkest days. The hugs, the calls, the messages, the video chats and all other ways that each of you have shown up for me have helped me come farther in this journey than I could’ve on my own. Without all of you I would be so lost. Thank you!♥️
I also have cash app and Venmo for those who feel uncomfortable with GoFundMe
cashapp
$edore14
venmo
@emilydorephotography
$edore14
venmo
@emilydorephotography
Organizer
Emily Doré
Organizer
Santa Cruz, CA