Help me help my son please

The Backstory

After years of difficulty with mental illness, trauma, numerous treatment facilities, doctors, medication and therapeutic foster homes, my son was put into a foster home that seemed like a godsend. I hadn't lost the rights to my son, but I have three other children and at the time, he presented a danger to his siblings. We later learned that my son suffered horrific abuse from someone who was supposed to love and care for him. This has been devastating to our family and we have been receiving counseling.

  My son Jacob and I

My son, second from left with his siblings

My son, far right, with mom and siblings

Additional Background

Unfortunately, my children and I were victims of domestic violence, and my estranged husband was finally prosecuted and jailed for malicious wounding after breaking in and attacking me in my home. Due to my traumatic brain injury, I was unable to give my son the supervision he needed at the time and agreed to the last foster placement. This was intended to be temporary, while I worked on my health and recovery, and he on his treatment.
My son, far right, visit with siblings while he was in a treatment facility.

While working on our reunification plan, my son appeared to be thriving in his new foster home. The foster family expressed the desire to adopt him. I was hesitant at first, but I had developed a good relationship with the family. We attended church with them sometimes, and they appeared well respected in their community. So, after discussions with my lawyer, social services, and lots of prayer, taking into consideration my son’s agreement with the proposal, I put aside my pride to do what I believed was the best choice for my son and signed over my rights.
My son with me before visits were taken away (above and below)


Everything continued to go smoothly until the adoption was finalized. After that, the family cut communication off almost entirely. They stopped taking my son to therapy and I later learned from my son, they treated him like he was ‘there to serve them’. Once every few months, the mother would call to see if I wanted to see my son, and every time she would change her mind at the last minute. My son revealed that they emotionally and physically abused him and used promised visits with his family and I to punish him by taking the visit away.

My son holds his nephew (center) with sisters on each side
My son, me and his brother
My son, out on pass during treatment with sisters and mom 

His life was unraveling.

My son ended up running away from his adoptive family after they continually cut him off from us, his birth family (shown in these photos), and that narrative started to become clearer as he told anyone he spoke with; he “would rather die than go back to that house”. After over 30 days of being on the run, he turned himself in and was placed in a foster home four hours away, and I get no information about my son because I no longer have any rights to him. His siblings and I are heartbroken.

How you can help

I have petitioned the court to restore my rights to be a part of my son’s life and our case is coming up in two weeks. It is becoming increasingly apparent that I need to hire a lawyer. I voluntarily gave up my rights under the impression that it would help my son, but that clearly is not what happened. I was given false promises that I would be a part of his life, treatment and wellness plan. I want to be involved in his life and be a part of his recovery.

It has been two years since all of this started and I am now better able to be a part of his life due to my own recovery. I don't have the money to do this on my own and am asking for anything you can give to help with the legal fees and process. Thank you I advance for your consideration of this matter.