Abducted child of DVM mom

Please help our family raise funds for the family of this abducted (and recently recovered) child.  Please disseminate as far and wide as you can. 

Hello friends and family,
 
My name is Jen Gambino, I’m a veterinary radiologist. Many of you know me personally, professionally or both. I am creating this fundraiser for a dear friend in dire need. She is a single mom (and also a veterinarian and colleague). I am fundraising to financially assist her. She experienced the recent nightmare no parent would ever want to endure. Her child was abducted. I can’t post many details or plethora of information due to the potential sensitive and criminal nature of the case. The time away from his mom was highly damaging emotionally, mentally and physically.
  
The child’s grandmother hid him from authorities in undisclosed locations in multiple states for 118 days. COVID19 seriously delayed the process of discovering the child and added an unbelievable layer of complexity to the child’s recovery as you could imagine. Legal fees are now approaching 6 figures. The mom has exhausted her life savings, had to request the down payment on her 1st home back dissolving that venture; and had to put over $30,000 of the legal fees on credit cards to cover urgent legal motions and private detectives. To say that ANY small amount of help would make a huge impact is an understatement.
 
Without going so far as to reveal her identity due ongoing investigation and legal process, I have known this mom for 7 years and am familiar with her on a personal, ethical and professional level. She has a respected and impactful academic career despite being a recent graduate. I have watched her little boy grow up to be a “be-tween” since he was 4 years old. This child is well loved and belongs with the mom. She is professional, kind, and caring. The expenses to engage a legal team spanning multiple states have been astronomical.
 
My family and I have peripherally watched her painful process unfold from start to…seemingly no end. We watched and experienced how difficult it was to navigate the legal and child services “system.”  We assisted in contacting local, government and private agencies across the country. Alerts were issued in several states to locate the child. The mom was distraught for months. The child location and recovery process, and the child’s safe return was time consuming and emotionally and financially draining. As a relatively new graduate, this has been a significant game changer for her and her child.  From the exterior many colleagues believe she is doing “ok”. I know she is struggling- and making significant sacrifices to make sure he is provided for. 
 
This little family is worthy of our attention. Please help me continue to help this talented colleague and her amazing little one. The mom is working hard to maintain excellence in her current academic appointment and keep their life afloat and recover from this so she and the child can move on with life (and get the child the needed help to recover from this). I kindly request, despite these challenging times we all find ourselves in, if there is any small amount you can give it, please do so. I ask this in honor and memory of abducted children and the parents who have to suffered and endured through the experience. Words can’t really express the heartbreak and pain I witness on each and every one of the 118 days. Please know that no amount is too small and ANY amount is GREATLY appreciated.  

Yours sincerely, 
Jen, Jason and Olivia 
(The Syrcle Family)