Sasha is Gloria’s & Chris’ foster daughter. She came to live with us when she aged out of the foster care system at age 18. She has been a member of our family ever since. One year ago, this month, Sasha gave birth to her beautiful child K’Lil, our grandchild. Sasha, being a kind and trusting soul, in her naivete, allowed herself to be manipulated and coerced into sharing legal parent status with someone who is not K’Lil’s biological parent and also not a US citizen. That individual has taken the baby to live in Canada – again by manipulating Sasha into taking K’Lil across the border. Sasha moved to Halifax Canada this past summer to be near K’Lil and to be a full-time parent for her child. Because she is not a Canadian citizen, she does not have a work permit and is unable to get a job in Canada. Suffice it to say, things have not gone well, certainly not as Sasha hoped and envisioned. This individual who is not related biologically to K’Lil is attempting to take K’Lil away from Sasha by any means possible. One recent tactic has been to accuse Sasha of assault, which has resulted in Sasha’s arrest and entanglement with the Canadian criminal justice system. The Canadian authorities have taken Sasha’s passport and she is unable to return to the US until this matter is resolved. Gloria and I have retained a criminal attorney for Sasha and Gloria is working closely with him and Sasha to make sure this matter is resolved. Gloria has made 2 trips to Halifax this fall to attend court hearings and meet with the attorney. There is one more hearing on this matter and it is our hope that this matter will be resolved without any criminal record that could affect Sasha’s ability to travel into and out of Canada. The latest attempt to take K’Lil away is that this person has filed for sole custody of K’Lil and asked the Canadian Family Court to appoint them K’Lil’s primary parent. Gloria and I, with the help of the criminal attorney, have found a family law attorney who is willing to take Sasha’s case and work to see that K’Lil is returned to their bio-mom, Sasha. Simultaneously, we have retained a US attorney, who is working to have this individual removed from K’Lil’s Ohio / US birth certificate. Unfortunately, that action is on hold until Sasha gets her passport back and can return to the States for a hearing. The attorney here is optimistic that this can be accomplished and the Canadian family law attorney agrees that it would also help the Canadian case. While the legal situation is long and complicated, Sasha has a great legal team for all three cases we are cautiously optimistic that ultimately Justice will be served and Sasha will be reunited with K’Lil, who she has not seen since early August. In addition to Sasha’s legal fees, and Gloria’s travel expenses, we are providing support for Sasha to live and eat while she remains in Canada and are also helping her to get much needed counseling as she tries to navigate the stress and devastation this situation has caused. She is completely alone in Halifax, without a support system and is understandably struggling with despair, anxiety and depression. The therapist she has found is helping her to cope but because Sasha is not Canadian, this is also costly. We desperately need your help. We are in the fortunate position of having good credit and have been paying these legal fees with our credit card, so that the fight can continue. Currently we have spent over $6000 and there are more legal fees coming. Sasha must stay in Canada to win this fight and she needs our help to be reunited with her child. Please consider donating and also helping us to get the word out to folks who can help. Sasha is a big part of the Ohio Lesbian Festival and Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival Communities and she needs your support. Anyone who has ever been close to a custody battle understands the heartbreak that Sasha is experiencing. November 4 – just last week, was K’Lil’s 1st birthday and Sasha was alone in Canada grieving rather than celebrating that joyous occasion with K'Lil. Please give what you can, when you can and please keep Sasha and K’Lil in your hearts and thoughts. Send them the love and woo that they need to get through this. Thank you for your support. Chris & Gloria