I am the mother of two wonderful, beautiful children, who have been through so much since they were 3 and 4 years old. Since 2007, I have been in and out of family court every 6 months to a year apart, fighting to protect these children from an environment of drugs and alcohol abuse by the other parent. It has been a 9 year nightmare for the three of us. The other parent has continued to fight, even though evidence has proven time and time again, that drugs or alcohol have been an issue during the other parents visits.  

Up until 2013 I was able to financial fight, hiring great legal representation,  being awarded full physical and legal custody each time. However in May of 2013, I was diagnosed with cancer, at which point, my financial resources declined while going through treatment, which safed my life.  

There is new temporary order in place, until an evidentiary hearing in late April 2016. It is VITAL that I win for the sake of both children, but most importantly for my non verbal, special needs son. Isaiah has multiple diagnosis, with the most life threatening being that he is a "Runner". The other parent has lost our son 7 times, which I'm aware of. One was on the beaches of Maui, were he was eventually found a mile and a half away entering a residence. Another was in the middle of the night in his pajamas, and was found 5 hours later by police, and another, where he walked out in heavy traffic, and narrowly missed being hit by a speeding car. Now that he is 14, he has gotten faster and even more clever at escaping. I have implemented locks and alarms on doors, and up until September 2015, these were sufficient. I had personally never experienced him running in my care until NOW.  After which I purchased him a tracker, which he wears from the time he wakes up, until he goes to bed. Though I have pleaded with the other parent, to install locks and alarms, and to use a tracker in their care, my plea's have gone ignored, reponding with, "I know how to handle our son".   A tracker has safed his life at least 4 times to date in my care.  Additionally, because he is non verbal, and with his disability, he has no way of telling me if the other parent was using or drinking and driving him, as this parent has done in the past. With this in mind, I am also fighting to have his sister accompany all visits with him and the other parent, as she has been the one who has the ability to prevent her and her brother from getting into a car with an intoxicated parent.

At this time, the court has adopted the mediators recommendation and granted the other parent alone time (For the first time ever) with Isaiah pending the evidentury hearing, not knowing about Isaiah's most recent running incidences, where he is making 2-3 attempts a week trying to escape, (He's curious, and wants to do what he sees other kids his age does) and even though this parent had failed a drug test, and though our daughter saw drugs in the other parent's car just days before the failed drug test. 

If something happened to Isaiah, causing him his life, my life would forever be broken. To date, I have spent close to $200k over the years in attorney fees. My resources are now dried up, and I have nowhere else to ask, but here. I need to give my new attorney, a $20,000 retainer to cover from now, to the end of the two day trial. I'd be so very grateful for whatever you can give. Thank you. Isaiah, Jadyn and Celie.