Hi, my name is Lauren Evans, and I’ve had the privilege of being one of Kayla’s closest friends for the past 16 years. If there’s one thing everyone who knows Kayla can agree on, it’s that being a mother isn’t just a role she fills, it’s the very heart of who she is. Her children have always been her greatest joy, her purpose, and the center of her world.

Over the past six months, I have watched one of the strongest women I know endure unimaginable heartbreak while continuing to show up every single day for her children. I’ve watched her miss them, worry about them, pray for them, and fight tirelessly to maintain the relationship every loving parent deserves to have with their children.

What many people don’t see are the countless sleepless nights, the tears, the stress, and the financial burden that comes with navigating a lengthy custody battle and ongoing reunification efforts.

Since January alone, Kayla has spent nearly $20,000 on legal fees, court costs, counseling, and reunification efforts. She has exhausted personal resources, drained savings, rearranged finances, and made significant sacrifices because giving up on her children has never been an option.

Despite doing everything she can, Kayla now faces an additional $14,000 legal balance. As a result, her attorney has been forced to place her case on hold until that balance can be paid.

Without legal representation, she risks losing critical opportunities to continue advocating for her children during a time when they need her most.

The heartbreaking reality is that while legal proceedings can be delayed, childhood cannot. Every day that passes is time that can never be recovered.

As her friend, I have watched her carry this burden largely on her own. I have watched her continue to work, continue to show up, and continue to fight even when she is emotionally, mentally, and financially exhausted. Through it all, her focus has remained the same: her children.

I’ve watched her struggle through holidays, birthdays, sporting events, and ordinary days that most parents take for granted. I’ve watched her cry over the time she’s missed and the memories she can never get back. Yet no matter how difficult things become, she continues to show up with hope, determination, and unconditional love for her children.

If you’ve ever met Kayla, you know she is not someone who asks for help. She is usually the first person offering help to everyone else. Creating this fundraiser is not something she would have chosen for herself, which is exactly why I am doing it for her.

No mother should have to choose between financial stability and the ability to continue advocating for her children.

The funds raised will go directly toward:

Outstanding legal balances

Ongoing attorney fees

Court costs and filings

Counseling and reunification services

Resources necessary to continue advocating for the best interests of her children

Whether you can donate $5, $50, or simply share this fundraiser, every contribution helps give Kayla the opportunity to continue fighting for the two people she loves most in this world.

Most importantly, please keep Kayla and her children in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this incredibly difficult chapter.

Thank you for supporting a mother who refuses to give up on her children. One day, I hope her children will look back and know that no matter how difficult things became, their mom never stopped fighting for them.