Hi, my name is Shannon and I have followed Melissa’s journey over many years as she navigated her rights to grandparent visitation for her gorgeous granddaughter Mila.

Mel had truly been through years of financial and emotional stress trying to be present in Mila’s life. It’s been a tough watching her have to endure what she has.

She is an amazing lady who has supported me so much in my own times of need. She needs our help now more than ever to set Mila up in a new state with a new life.

On May 4th 2026, 7 weeks before her 9th birthday, and less than 1 week before Mother’s Day, my beautiful granddaughter Mila lost her mother. She passed away unexpectedly in her sleep while they were away on a trip, and Mila was the one who found her.

Mila is now in my care and I will become her legal guardian. I am going to do everything possible to make sure she has a good life and starts to participate in things other children take for granted such as swimming lessons, and pay for classes for other interests like horse riding and Acro which are things she’s never had the opportunity to do.

I want to ensure Mila is set up financially for everything she needs such as the activities above and school fees and uniforms etc but she is also going to need trauma counseling and my mother and I who she will live with are also going to need to see a counselor to ensure that we can help Mila navigate this awful time as best we can.

My ultimate goal would be to allow Mila to have her own dog to help heal the trauma she’s suffered.

We are going to need to make at least 1 trip back to Charters Towers in rural QLD to collect Mila’s things, or at least what we can manage on the plane as she has precious things at home from her mum she would like to keep forever and of course some of her toys. It’s expensive to get up there as it’s too far too drive (20 hours) The flights are expensive and there will be a hire car and accommodation as well as no doubt a tonne of excess baggage.

I didn’t ever imagine being the person starting a gofundme but here we are. I am going to need the help of a village to make sure this precious little girl grows up with the life that she deserves so if you are in a position to donate, it would be ever so appreciated. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make sure this little girl has the best life possible.