Help a mom save her son!

This story is about my close friend Devin’s six-year old son, Isaiah (I-zay-uh)  It may be a bit long, but the length is necessary to give you the real details.  PLEASE read <3




Isaiah just started first grade, and currently lives in Las Vegas. Isaiah is a sweet, caring and loving little boy who dances at weddings, gives cheek kisses, and says things like “Mom, you’re so pretty,” and, “Watch me! I’m a ghostbuster! Are you watching?!?!?”).   




Isaiah loves his mother dearly, but they have been separated. He misses his mom, which is evident by the way he breaks down in tears and begs not to have leave each of their visits.  “I don’t want to go with my dad.  Let me stay with you! Please?” he says. 




In 2014 his father, Alan, was arrested and proven guilty of a felony offense (robbery with a deadly weapon) and was sentenced to two years in prison.  When he went to prison, he left Devin and Isaiah all alone, with her as the sole provider. 




During that time Devin decided to move to Missouri to be with supporting friends and family who helped care for her and Isaiah during a difficult time. Devin and Isaiah started a new life where she was able to reach her goals and provide a safe, stable and happy environment for Isaiah.  He got to spend time with family, play outside, and attend a daycare that cared deeply for his development and well-being. It truly was the kind of carefree and loving life that every child should have.




During the two years Alan was in prison, Devin allowed Isaiah to speak to his father over the phone.  She knew how important it was for a little boy to have a father son connection and she didn’t want Isaiah to have to miss out on that connection. She was doing her best to do what was best for her son.




Once Alan was released from prison in Las Vegas, Devin felt it was important for Isaiah to re-establish a relationship with his father. Isaiah was excited to see his dad!  After Alan and Isaiah had a few successful visits, she let Isaiah spend the summer months with Alan in 2016. At the time Alan was on probation, could not leave the state of Nevada, and was living with Devin’s mom (Isaiah’s maternal grandmother). Devin felt Isaiah was in a safe environment at that time.  




She trusted that, after the summer visit, Alan would have Isaiah returned back to Missouri to resume his stable life and return to school. In retrospect, having that trusting heart may have been the most soul crushing mistake of her life.

 

Alan and Devin had verbally agreed not to put Isaiah through a custody battle, and to let him continue life in Missouri, where he was familiar and comfortable. BUT, Alan secretively went against their agreement and decided to pursue custody of Isaiah, leaving Devin blindsided and betrayed. 




You would think that keeping a child in the stable and loving environment with which he was familiar, would be the logical option!  However, the family court system determined in July 2017 that Isaiah was considered a Nevada resident due to the amount of time he spent with his father during those summer months (May 4th 2016 - September 2016). 




Devin was in complete shock and her heart was completely shattered.  She stayed strong and decided that she would follow the custody agreement to a T, and would figure out a way to get Isaiah back.  She needed a stronger case, more evidence, more solid reasoning for the courts to side with her.




Everything has changed for the worse.  Alan and Isaiah now live in the garage of his mother’s home.  8 other people live in the home and Alan works night shifts, so he rarely gets to spend time with Isaiah because Isaiah is in school all day. But that’s nowhere near the worst of it.




Isaiah recently flew to Missouri to visit Devin for a wedding, and when putting him in the bath she saw that he had bruises along his backside as though he had been whipped.  She had seen mysterious bruises on him before which were always explained away to her as if there was not a thing to worry about…but a mother knows when something does NOT add up. This time when she asked Isaiah what happened, he looked at her scared and said he didn’t want to tell her because he didn’t want to get in trouble.




Deeply concerned, she took him to the children’s hospital to have him evaluated.  The specialists, who witness abused and neglected children regularly, determined that Isaiah shows tangible signs of emotional and physical abuse, confirming that Isaiah IS BEING BOTH PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSED WHILE IN HIS FATHER’S CARE.  Devin had to send him back to Las Vegas the next day, but she booked the soonest flight to Vegas wo that she could to be in the same city as her son and do WHATEVER she could to get Isaiah back, ASAP. 




She is in Vegas now and is worried that the abuse will only continue. During a recent FaceTime call she witnessed Alan mocking Isaiah for sobbing and being scared, while Alan was threatening and intimidating Isaiah with a heavy leather belt in his hands. 




Devin is now in the process of repealing the current custody agreement and removing Isaiah from his father’s “care” (hopefully the courts will listen).  Within a single day she left her job in Missouri and flew to Las Vegas, so she could put all of her time into her mission to rescue her son.  




She will have the best chance if she hires a lawyer to help her, but at this point lawyer fees exceed what she can afford.  She will fight without representation if she has to, but she would be at a big disadvantage doing so.  




Here’s where we need YOUR help.




Far too often, innocent children get abused by those who are supposed to love and protect them the most. Even though the court system is meant to protect the innocent, sometimes it falls short and leaves children in the care of the wrong people, often resulting in major injuries and death of a child. It is a dark reality that Isaiah, an innocent six-year old boy, could face if left in the custody of his father. 




I kindly plead with friends and family to make a modest contribution of $5 to support Devin in her mission to rescue Isaiah, and to help her afford the best attorney possible.  She needs to get her son back where he should be, and where he wants to be, before too much damage is done.  




If you can give more than $5 that is genuinely appreciated as well.  




Thank you.  Thank you. Thank you ALL.  <3