Monika and Ayven - Fight for Freedom
Donation protected
PLEASE, PLEASE HELP NOW
Hi, my name is Jessica Kitchens and I am fundraising for my incredible lifelong best friend Monika (Groppe) and her 3 year old son, Ayven.
This is an emergency fundraiser to help Monika and her son seek safety from an abusive husband. She has sought help within our legal justice system, for 2 years in the state of Tennessee, without success.
It's really not in Monika to ask for help, but the situation has been prolonged and is dangerous, and we must help. Urgently.
*I must add that I am also very much fear that her abuser will try to use this fundraiser against her, with false claims of its origin, intent, or exploitation, even though I made it entirely without her awareness or regard, as a plea for public help. This being said, I do not want to keep the fundrasier open for too long.
If you feel called to help, or help even more with another contribution, Please, now is the time.
The Story:
The battle for her and her child's safety began the day her husband picked up a weapon and threatened to kill her and her child. This was not his first abusive act, but it was his most threatening. We've since uncovered a pattern of abusive behavior between him and other women. In the last two years, despite having a well-respected lawyer, Monika has not yet had the opportunity to share her story and concerns in court. She has been living with her parents, while her abuser has multiple properties in the neighborhood where she first lived, bought a home, and worked to cultivate community and connection.
The most pressing emergency regards the threat of child abduction. Though the abuser was asked to place the child's passport into a neutral location since the date of his lethal threat, he has not done so. He has recently indicated his intentions to apply for Indian citizenship for the child, allowing for an unchecked parental abduction. This confirms one of Monika’s worst fears.
Monika resisted exposing their hardship publicly these past 2 years, as she is by far the most humble and pure soul I have ever met. She also feared any help could be used against her, somehow. She believed that through honesty and non-violent advocating, she would find safety and protection within our justice system. After years of experiencing countless delays and injustices, and with the update of the very serious and frightening plans of action from her abuser, we must urgently help to secure her and her child's safety.
Monika is truly a light in our world. She is an inspiration for humanity. I've witnessed her daily, and unbelievable acts of humble (yet grand) generosity, kindness, honesty, and joy - since she was a child. Every person that has ever crossed her path attests to it. If I were to create a list of her sacrifices or good deeds that were done in the name of kindness and soul-melting generosity, I would undoubtedly have a novel.
And if you would indeed like a list, please feel free to write me. (I'd also have a novel if I wrote all the injustices she has endured these past 2 years)
In short, how special Monika is quite known - her pure intent, honest, hard-working kindness, and the knowledge that she made someone's day brighter, easier, and more beautiful, without any desire for receiving anything in return, is what truly fuels her every moment of every day. I've never met someone more dedicated to such a beautiful and inspiring life.
*She is not at all against their son connecting to, experiencing, and celebrating his Indian heritage. It’s just not safe under these circumstances. When he is of-age, their son will be free to live/travel wherever he pleases.
How can money help Monika and her son reach safety?
The answer is sad and simple. In our legal system, money buys freedom. The abuser uses threats of having endless funds to fight until Monika cannot fund their cause any more. Monika has already spent every penny of her earnings (and more) amounting to $93,000 in legal fees alone. She lives in a constant state of ultimate frugality and uncertainty amongst many other tragic details of the case that I have chosen to omit for now.
And sadly, her abuser's attorney is an infamously expensive, relentless lawyer. And Monika is looking to face at least up to another $40,000 for the trial.
Her experience is only one of many. At least 1 in 5 women experience domestic violence. Like her, few have sufficient funds to truly protect themselves, and, even when they do, most domestic violence cases end with a dismissal of all charges.
Feeling this eye-opening problem acutely, she has started volunteering and connecting with various organizations to help promote awareness of injustice, and advocate for human rights and protections, legally and economically.
The most pressing emergency regards the threat of child abduction. Though the abuser was asked to place the child's passport into a neutral location since the date of his lethal threat, he has not done so. He has recently indicated his intentions to apply for Indian citizenship for the child, allowing for an unchecked parental abduction. This confirms one of Monika’s worst fears.
Monika resisted exposing their hardship publicly these past 2 years, as she is by far the most humble and pure soul I have ever met. She also feared any help could be used against her, somehow. She believed that through honesty and non-violent advocating, she would find safety and protection within our justice system. After years of experiencing countless delays and injustices, and with the update of the very serious and frightening plans of action from her abuser, we must urgently help to secure her and her child's safety.
Monika is truly a light in our world. She is an inspiration for humanity. I've witnessed her daily, and unbelievable acts of humble (yet grand) generosity, kindness, honesty, and joy - since she was a child. Every person that has ever crossed her path attests to it. If I were to create a list of her sacrifices or good deeds that were done in the name of kindness and soul-melting generosity, I would undoubtedly have a novel.
And if you would indeed like a list, please feel free to write me. (I'd also have a novel if I wrote all the injustices she has endured these past 2 years)
In short, how special Monika is quite known - her pure intent, honest, hard-working kindness, and the knowledge that she made someone's day brighter, easier, and more beautiful, without any desire for receiving anything in return, is what truly fuels her every moment of every day. I've never met someone more dedicated to such a beautiful and inspiring life.
*She is not at all against their son connecting to, experiencing, and celebrating his Indian heritage. It’s just not safe under these circumstances. When he is of-age, their son will be free to live/travel wherever he pleases.
How can money help Monika and her son reach safety?
The answer is sad and simple. In our legal system, money buys freedom. The abuser uses threats of having endless funds to fight until Monika cannot fund their cause any more. Monika has already spent every penny of her earnings (and more) amounting to $93,000 in legal fees alone. She lives in a constant state of ultimate frugality and uncertainty amongst many other tragic details of the case that I have chosen to omit for now.
And sadly, her abuser's attorney is an infamously expensive, relentless lawyer. And Monika is looking to face at least up to another $40,000 for the trial.
Her experience is only one of many. At least 1 in 5 women experience domestic violence. Like her, few have sufficient funds to truly protect themselves, and, even when they do, most domestic violence cases end with a dismissal of all charges.
Feeling this eye-opening problem acutely, she has started volunteering and connecting with various organizations to help promote awareness of injustice, and advocate for human rights and protections, legally and economically.
THE THREAT
Her abuser is trying to get the child's dual citizenship. In the meantime, he has also been fighting for 50/50 custody, despite his accounts of previous abuse, and how the child clearly indicates various hardships he is already experiencing in the court-ordered unsupervised weekends he has with his father.
I have witnessed her abuser's emotional volatility, his behavioral match for narcissistic personality disorder, and lack of providing for his own child. It is horrifying.
WITH OUR HELP, MONIKA STANDS A CHANCE AGAINST HER ABUSER.
WE ARE TRULY THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN HELP.
Please join me in the start of
#MonikasFightforFreedom
If needed, I, we, who support her in this, will result to acts of public outcry until her story is heard and they are safe.
Please, take part now. Please help by donating and sharing.
Please if you feel called to help, or help even further with another contribution,
PLEASE, PLEASE, HELP NOW
Please if you feel called to help, or help even further with another contribution,
PLEASE, PLEASE, HELP NOW
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Kitchens
Organizer
Chattanooga, TN
Monika Patel
Beneficiary