Help Bring Her Kids Home

My sister is a single mother to two beautiful children. Her daughter is 11 years old and her son is 10 years old and a Type 1 diabetic. For those of you that know her, you know her passion and knowledge of his diabetes. This part of their lives has impacted and affected her so much and she is constantly trying to educate others on this disease. Her and their father split when the kids were 4 and 3 (in 2011). She established conservatorship over her children in November 2013 in Bexar County. She has been their sole provider their entire lives.

Tragedy struck her family in October of 2015 when her children’s father passed away. At that point, it was just her and her kids. After his passing, her ex’s mother told her the children’s uncle and wife (his brother and his wife) offered to take the kids to help her get on her feet. She told them this was unnecessary as they had just lost one parent, she didn’t want them to be without both, they live in another city (2 hours away), and they hadn’t even been that involved in the children’s lives so it would be foreign to them.

From then into 2016, she started to receive phone calls from some of our family and friends. All were stating that the same uncle and aunt reached out to them asking questions about her and her children. Their aunt had addressed concerns with a number of people about my sister’s health. About 6 months later, they reached out to her and asked to take her kids for a few months to help her get back on her feet. At the time, she was struggling with depression and overcoming a lot of personal issues that had arose. She was still maintaining a full-time job and taking care of her children who had everything they needed. It took her many weeks of thinking, but she finally agreed to allow her children to go over ONLY under the understanding and agreement that the children would return when the school year was over.

Three months after the kids were over there, a restraining order was placed on her with a court date set for two months later. She wasn’t able to see or even speak to her children pending court. During that time (she later learned from her kids), they would tell her kids lies about their mother and that she didn’t want them. She trusted them with her children and really feels they had a pre-meditated plan. She was blindsided.

TEMPORARY HEARING – Williamson County

• She had no attorney as she was unable to find the funds or resources to retain one – forced to represent herself

• They presented no hard evidence for any allegations against her

• The Judge granted their aunt and uncle temporary custody – due to her son’s diabetes and their aunt being in the medical field

• She was only allowed 8 hour visitations on weekends

FINAL HEARING – Williamson County

• She had an attorney and representation

• Judge confirmed most statements made along with appointments scheduled with the aunt and uncle’s attorney before making decisions

• Judge would not listen to her attorney; their attorney made comments about her attorney recently graduating law school

• After 30 minutes, the Judge granted their aunt and uncle full custody

• My sister was ordered to pay $500/month in child support

• 48 hour visitations on 1st, 3rd, 5th weekends

• Court ordered to drive the 2hrs to and from their house to pick up and drop off her children

CURRENTLY

• August 2018 – second restraining order taken out

• Court order set for modification to change current orders – aunt and uncle are asking her visitation to be revoked and supervised visits only (continuously)

I know for a fact she is not the first person nor single mother to be taken advantage this way by this county. What we’re hoping for, is to bring awareness and change not only to her case but to others who may be suffering from similar situations. At this time, my sister still doesn’t’ have an attorney and owes for her previous one. She is exhausting all finances and resources to drive 2 hours to and from her kids (3x within 48hrs), on top of the $500/month child support, along with the insurance she is providing for her children.

Asking for money is hard for anyone – especially my sister. At this point, we have all exhausted our resources and this is our final resort. Anything you can provide (prayers, information, money, etc.) is more than greatly appreciated at this time…..it’s all she has. Thank you again for your time.

DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THE MATTERS OF THIS CASE, NO NAMES WILL BE GIVEN. I also want to thank you for taking the time and energy to read our story; it means a lot to my family.