My name is Kari and I am in need of help. This is extremely hard and humbling for me to even say, let alone ask for.

This past December I was made aware that my great nephew and niece were removed from their mother’s care and placed in foster care. Without hesitation I asked who I contact and how I get them. See I live in Tennessee and they are in Iowa. My great nephew had just turned one and my great niece was a newborn. Since December I have been taking every step asked of me to prepare my home for them. From purchasing cribs, to clothing, to sippy cups, you name it, I have been preparing. (With the help from family and friends as well) Everything is ready for these two amazing little people to come be home.

But here’s the part where I have to ask for help….and it’s really not easy for me.

September 2nd is the final hearing to remove all parental rights and for the judge to make a decision. As you can imagine with the distance I have only been able to go to Iowa one time for a few days back in June to meet the babies in person and spend some time with them. We do weekly video visits and that’s always fun. But what needs to happen now is for me to go out to Iowa and spend 2 to 3 weeks to help with the transition and bonding so that my niece and nephew can come home and be with family where they belong.

Luckily for me, I work from home so I will be able to take my computer and work while I’m out there, but I am a single income home. It’s just me so while I’m out there I still have to maintain my home here in Tennessee and pay my rent and all of my bills. So this is where I’m asking for help.

I will need to rent an Airbnb for 2 to 3 weeks. I will need to either drive out to Iowa or fly there and back. I will need money for food and incidentals while I’m there and I don’t have the money to be able to afford to do this on my own and I’m desperately asking for help. Because these two babies deserve the world and I want to give that to them.

I would show you pictures of how beautiful these two babies are, but with them being in foster care, I can’t do that. The plan is for me to adopt them in the near future. I don’t want to cause these babies more trauma and that’s why I am trying to go out to spend this time with them so that the transition and bonding will be easier on them. I’m asking for help, anything that you would be able to give would be so appreciated.

The hearing is on September 2 and it’s looking right now like I would be going out from September 1 through September 20. Again, if you’re able to help, you have no idea how grateful I would be. I know it’s asking a lot but these babies are my family and family is everything.