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We are raising funds to help our chronically ill, disabled friend, Michelle ("M"), as she rebuilds, recovers, and secures her life after enduring years of emotional and financial abuse, and caregiver neglect. After years of suffering, M’s health deteriorated so severely that she was diagnosed with "failure to thrive" by her primary doctor, weighing only 82 pounds when we, her closest friends, intervened.
With our support, she made the incredibly brave decision to leave. She and her child are now legally protected by a restraining order and protective custody order, but the battle for safety, shelter and financial security is far from over.
M is permanently disabled with multiple degenerative ailments that limit her ability to work and magnifies the trauma she carries. Despite this, she is fighting every day to protect her rights as a disabled mother and to ensure her child's security and future.
Her circumstances have been further complicated because:
- She has no access to shared finances, investments, and accounts;
- Assets were taken from her home before protective orders were in place;
- She was left without access to the resources needed to secure proper legal representation throughout her divorce proceedings;
- The situation has caused deep trauma and irreversible damage to her body, leaving lasting effects on her health and mobility; and
- She is currently living in a state of fear and financial instability, constantly under duress and intimidation.
We are asking for help to give M a fighting chance at a fresh start and the legal support she needs. She is facing an overwhelmingly complex and emotionally draining legal system entirely on her own, a battle made even more difficult because she lives with autoimmune disease and multiple disabilities. The priority now is securing an attorney who specializes in advocacy for abuse survivors and disability rights in divorce proceedings to prevent further intimidation, abuse, and harm, and to give M and her child a fair chance to live safely with stability.
Any gifts or donations will go directly toward retaining an experienced attorney as well as covering legal filings, court fees, and the costs of protective legal support throughout the divorce proceedings.
Disabled survivors of abuse often lose almost everything. M came close to losing her life. We gave her the courage and strength to leave her abusive situation. Now, we need all of your help to keep the fight going and to offer M and her child the promise of a safe and steady tomorrow.
If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Visibility gives her power, and support gives her safety.