Help Russ fight for his children.
Donazione protetta
It took me facing a lot of pride to even think about opening this fundraiser. But those of you who know me, know me for being honest, genuine and vulnerable; so here goes...
Last year was the most heartbreaking and devastating year of my entire life. And granted, I have had so much death in my family since I was young, to include my mother. But, last year tops it all. Last year, my wife and I separated. I will not bash her in any way. She made her decision, and I have made mine. But, I will tell you this, in February of 2005 (when my oldest daughter was born), I made the most important decision of my life. I chose to stop living my destructive ways of alcoholism, club violence, hanging with the homies, and looking for the next rush. Without my first daughter, I would not have been able to survive what I have, change what I needed to about myself (still growing) and would have easily been addicted to drugs and other despicable ways. In 2009 when my second was born, it only solidified my desire to succeed in this realm.
When Aaleiana was born, I literally just wanted to be home with my family, and extremely rarely hung out with people (other than the karate school) any more. Throughout the years, I lost a lot of friends and family members, because I chose to keep my children away from friend/family dysfunction, and avoid partying. In 2018 I became a police officer, and the stress of the job and life had a negative impact on my family. I was hyper stressed, and learning to adapt. However, my family could not. But, at this point, I already had almost 15 years of doing nothing more than staying with my family at night, and 15 years of not actively seeking any other community connections. I became a homebody.
When my youngest was born, it only sealed the fact that I wanted to be the best dad I could possibly be, even when I never learned how to be one, because I had no real fatherly guidance growing up.
Last year, my children were taken away from me. Aaleiana was kept away from me through her hurt, and other reasons that I am unaware of. Now, I am finally reconciling my relationship with her. Teleia has been my trooper the whole time, and has never left my side. They are both hurting. They are both still healing, and I want nothing more than to be a part of their healing.
I had to go through a lot of attacks on my mind, to find the truth that I was never a bad father. Sure, maybe I was overprotective, sure, maybe I was even strict, but I loved (and love) my children more than I love my own life; to the point that I was overly playing nice by letting my children be with their mother more than me. Now that has come to bite me.
That being said, I have been suffering financially pretty much as soon as everyone left. I have a lot of joy, because I do not find my worth in money, but now the attack is financially driven. I thought we could settle everything cordially, but I knew that as soon as I moved on in life, with a new love life, that it may cause a rift. It did. Now it is ugly, and having my children in my life is being attacked. I have no regrets, because other than my children, no other person has ever made me this happy in my life. I believe I deserve to be happy this year, and in the future to come.
I have had to literally borrow money to hire a lawyer, and am now being asked to pay an absurd amount for child support, before the trials even start. I would easily do it, if I had the money. Shoots, I would pay whatever price it took to have and support my children if I could. I want nothing more than my children to be taken care of and protected, but I asked my lawyer, how do I make this money appear out of nowhere? Especially when I have to find more money to retain her? And now money to pay for other expenses both lawyers are asking of me. I am overwhelmed, but I refuse to break.
I am putting all my business out there, for you all to judge away. But I don't care. I just want my children in my life, and taken care of. Whatever it takes. I need them more than I need anyone else.
The most heartbreaking discovery of this whole ordeal, is not the anger or hurt that divorce causes, it is how the system actually can be manipulated to keep good fathers away from their children. It is shocking, especially with how many broken homes I deal with daily.
In my career, I have seen felons get more breaks than me. It is heartbreaking. All I have ever wanted to do, was be a good father.
I refuse to fold. I refuse to quit. And I refuse to do anything other than fight for my children and our relationship.
I know the money is a lot to ask, but with how ugly things are already getting, I am trying to cover every single legal expense possible. Especially so I can make sure I can get that child support squared. I am reaching out to cover my legal expenses, so I can focus on continuing to perform my duties as a father and as a LEO with the best of my capabilities as I refuse to let this world make my heart grow cold, or make my children another statistic. I am moving past the gossip, and moving past the slander. I am moving toward my victory as a father.
Thank you for your consideration. I love you guys.
Please share if possible,
Ruselis
Last year was the most heartbreaking and devastating year of my entire life. And granted, I have had so much death in my family since I was young, to include my mother. But, last year tops it all. Last year, my wife and I separated. I will not bash her in any way. She made her decision, and I have made mine. But, I will tell you this, in February of 2005 (when my oldest daughter was born), I made the most important decision of my life. I chose to stop living my destructive ways of alcoholism, club violence, hanging with the homies, and looking for the next rush. Without my first daughter, I would not have been able to survive what I have, change what I needed to about myself (still growing) and would have easily been addicted to drugs and other despicable ways. In 2009 when my second was born, it only solidified my desire to succeed in this realm.
When Aaleiana was born, I literally just wanted to be home with my family, and extremely rarely hung out with people (other than the karate school) any more. Throughout the years, I lost a lot of friends and family members, because I chose to keep my children away from friend/family dysfunction, and avoid partying. In 2018 I became a police officer, and the stress of the job and life had a negative impact on my family. I was hyper stressed, and learning to adapt. However, my family could not. But, at this point, I already had almost 15 years of doing nothing more than staying with my family at night, and 15 years of not actively seeking any other community connections. I became a homebody.
When my youngest was born, it only sealed the fact that I wanted to be the best dad I could possibly be, even when I never learned how to be one, because I had no real fatherly guidance growing up.
Last year, my children were taken away from me. Aaleiana was kept away from me through her hurt, and other reasons that I am unaware of. Now, I am finally reconciling my relationship with her. Teleia has been my trooper the whole time, and has never left my side. They are both hurting. They are both still healing, and I want nothing more than to be a part of their healing.
I had to go through a lot of attacks on my mind, to find the truth that I was never a bad father. Sure, maybe I was overprotective, sure, maybe I was even strict, but I loved (and love) my children more than I love my own life; to the point that I was overly playing nice by letting my children be with their mother more than me. Now that has come to bite me.
That being said, I have been suffering financially pretty much as soon as everyone left. I have a lot of joy, because I do not find my worth in money, but now the attack is financially driven. I thought we could settle everything cordially, but I knew that as soon as I moved on in life, with a new love life, that it may cause a rift. It did. Now it is ugly, and having my children in my life is being attacked. I have no regrets, because other than my children, no other person has ever made me this happy in my life. I believe I deserve to be happy this year, and in the future to come.
I have had to literally borrow money to hire a lawyer, and am now being asked to pay an absurd amount for child support, before the trials even start. I would easily do it, if I had the money. Shoots, I would pay whatever price it took to have and support my children if I could. I want nothing more than my children to be taken care of and protected, but I asked my lawyer, how do I make this money appear out of nowhere? Especially when I have to find more money to retain her? And now money to pay for other expenses both lawyers are asking of me. I am overwhelmed, but I refuse to break.
I am putting all my business out there, for you all to judge away. But I don't care. I just want my children in my life, and taken care of. Whatever it takes. I need them more than I need anyone else.
The most heartbreaking discovery of this whole ordeal, is not the anger or hurt that divorce causes, it is how the system actually can be manipulated to keep good fathers away from their children. It is shocking, especially with how many broken homes I deal with daily.
In my career, I have seen felons get more breaks than me. It is heartbreaking. All I have ever wanted to do, was be a good father.
I refuse to fold. I refuse to quit. And I refuse to do anything other than fight for my children and our relationship.
I know the money is a lot to ask, but with how ugly things are already getting, I am trying to cover every single legal expense possible. Especially so I can make sure I can get that child support squared. I am reaching out to cover my legal expenses, so I can focus on continuing to perform my duties as a father and as a LEO with the best of my capabilities as I refuse to let this world make my heart grow cold, or make my children another statistic. I am moving past the gossip, and moving past the slander. I am moving toward my victory as a father.
Thank you for your consideration. I love you guys.
Please share if possible,
Ruselis
Organizzatore
Aumeen Perry
Organizzatore
Colorado Springs, CO