
Please Join Randy's Journey to Bring His Daughter Home
My name is Misty and my husband's name is Randy Allbright. We are raising money to assist us in gaining full custody of his daughter.
Randy has a daughter from a previous relationship. Shortly after her 3rd birthday, he arrived at the home where his child was living with her mother to find the house empty and his daughter gone. A few months later he received documents from a court on the opposite side of the country, thousands of miles away. Since that day his rights as a father have been completely ignored. He had not been allowed to speak to his daughter, to know where his child was living, to visit his child, or even be shown photos of her by family members that were still allowed minimal contact with her. Eventually those family members were cut off as well.
The photos you see here are from her 3rd birthday party. They were all he had of his child for 10 years.
In 2020 we received a notice from DCF in Florida informing him that his daughter had been removed from her mother's care. We immediately called every number on the paper. When he finally got a call back we were told that the incident was months old and just the week prior the case had been closed and his little girl had been given back to her mother and there was nothing DCF could do for him but send us the reports. They did not. We were so close that time but just like that they were gone.
In April of this year, we received a packet of paperwork (certified mail) from DHS in yet another state. Inside were court papers, police reports, and notice that once again his child had been taken from her mother and was in state custody. This time just a couple of states away from Alabama where we live. There is an active case against her mother so we will not disclose the particulars publicly at this time. This amazing little girl's safety and anonymity are of the utmost importance to us. Suffice it to say that the papers were gut wrenching and absolutely heartbreaking to read.
We immediately emailed every person in the paperwork until we got a call back that same day. We were put in contact with the attorneys and case workers that are handling her case. They have been awesome, by the way. She was in a state facility at the time. We were asked if we wanted to take custody. Absolutely we do. However, there are obstacles to getting her to us as quickly as we want. We live a couple of states away. We have 2 teen boys in a 2 bedroom/ 1 bathroom.
While she was still in the State facility Randy received that first phone call from her in 10 years. Since that day, he calls her every day. We've made several trips out to visit with her. Getting to know this wonderful little girl is a blessing for us. For him. Since the day we met, I've seen how much not having her in his life has torn him apart inside. The light in my husband's eyes since we found her is unimaginably bright. Seeing it brings joy to my heart. She just turned 13. She is beautiful, smart, funny, and so talented in many areas. She is still full of light and goodness in spite of the hell she has been through. Most importantly, she is in a safe place. She wants to be in our lives and for us to be in hers. She is no longer in that State facility but is still currently in the foster care system. And many of you know how difficult that can be for children.
That brings us here, to this moment. It brings us to you good people.
We both work. I am everyone's favorite clerk at Mike's in Pine Level. Randy works harder. he is askilles carpenter and specializes in remodels. We live a modest life. We pay our bills, tend our gardens and take care of our responsibilities. We had a modest savings tucked back. We've used that for bills and traveling to begin building a solid relationship with this amazing young lady, all the while looking for lawyers, pricing materials, and still keeping our heads above water. The water is deep and we need more than we can achieve, all at once, on our own to bring this baby home. So pride be damned. Here we are.
We are trying to raise 12,000 dollars.
The lawyer we decided on is located in the same state as the case. He asked for $3,000
We need to build an additional bedroom and bathroom onto our home. Randy is a talented carpenter and can do the build himself. We estimate the materials needed (studs to paint) would be 6 to 8 thousand dollars. With inflation being what it is this is just an estimate.
Any remaining funds will be used to aid in travel expenses as we go back and forth to meet with the lawyer, attend court dates and most importantly spend time with this precious girl until we can bring her home for good. She needs her Daddy, and he needs her. They have been robbed of each other for 10 long years. She deserves to be in a home with love and stability. A place where she is safe. A home where she can heal, grow, and not just survive but thrive. We know that we can be that home for her.
We talked long and hard about starting this but, I've seen gofundme pages set up for far more trivial reasons. We understand that times are difficult for everyone right now but we truly need your help. No donation would be too small. If you aren't able to help in that way, please, share this link. Share it over and over. Help to bring a father and daughter back together, forever.
Thank you all for taking the time and consideration. Every little bit helps. If every person that sees this could find it in their heart to give even $5, we can get this baby home in no time.
#teambella