HELP KRISTINA GET HER GIRLS BACK!!

Hello everyone, my name is Kristina O’Connor and I need your help. In a nutshell, (the biggest nutshell possible ) this is my story. I am a 38 year old mother of 2 beautiful daughters. I also am an addict in recovery and God willing, on August 18, 2024, I will celebrate 6 years of continuous sobriety.

Now, to back track.

In November 2016, I was arrested for shoplifting with my daughters present, and we were taken to the police station. A family member came and picked up my daughters, and I went to Passaic County Jail. While in jail, it was suggested to me by child protective services that I voluntarily & temporarily sign my parental rights over to my cousin. I was told that doing this would make my chances of regaining custody in the future “easier.” When I went before the judge to finalize the “temporary” order, the judge simply told me; “When you’re ready to get your kids back, come back to court.” Unfortunately, at that time in my addiction, I wasn’t ready yet.

During this time of my addiction, especially without my children, I became a 99 lb, drug addicted, homeless prostitute who slept in stairwells of the projects. I had nothing and no one. I had officially hit rock bottom.

Fast forward to August 2018, I was finally sick and tired of the lifeless life I was living- dark, lonely, miserable. In fact, I wasn’t living at all, I was merely existing. On August 16, 2018 I admitted myself into New Bridge Medical Center where I successfully completed a 21 day inpatient program. However, with my level of addiction, I knew this wasn’t enough. I went on to Spring House for Women, a long term, intensive therapy inpatient treatment program where I remained, voluntarily, for 14 months.

In Spring House, I learned a great deal about myself & my past, and that in fact, I could do this thing called life without a substance. More importantly, I learned that I could, and deserved to be the mother that I always dreamed of being... and a damn good one at that.

A list of things I have accomplished in my journey in recovery:

-Successfully completed a long term inpatient addiction treatment program (Spring House) -Voluntarily turned myself in to 2 different counties for active warrants which lead to my sentencing of probation.

-Successfully completed said probation with ZERO infractions.

-Successfully completed ARP (Addiction Recovery Program- outpatient program) with ZERO infractions.

-Successfully completed parenting classes with certification.

-Successfully reinstated my driver’s license in NJ.

-Went back to school TWICE. Once on a FULL scholarship earning a certification in make-up. The latter, where I am presently- with my tuition paid in full, on my way to becoming a certified Permanent Makeup Artist.

-Rebuilt my credit score.

-Held the same job for the past 4 years to the present day.

-Completed the 12 steps of AA with a sponsor.

-Continue to do service in the recovery community.

-Current President of the Spring House Alumnae Association.

-Filed my own applications to Hudson County Court and represented myself time and time again, with documented receipts of such.

-Have and presently pay for therapy for myself and 2 daughters at the rate of $180/hr. -Became a godmother

-Maintain my weekly child support obligation

To the average person, this is nothing extraordinary. However, for a recovering addict who was formerly homeless with a full blown heroin addiction and is now nearly 6 years sober, these things mean everything.

Now to why I need your help. I have been going back and forth to court since 2020 trying to ultimately regain full custody of my children, but in the meantime, unsupervised visits at the very least. Any mother/parent should be able to relate in that a supervised 2 hours/week for nearly 4 years is just not enough time. During these past few years I have tried everything and have done everything the court has asked of me. I have consulted with numerous lawyers who have all said the same thing: that I have done everything I could possibly do. Unfortunately, without a lawyer, this process will continue to drag out. In other words, “money talks.” Meanwhile, my children continue to grow up without their mother.

This has been going on for far too long. My kids are suffering. My oldest cries every time we leave each other. After YEARS of doing everything right, I’m still left with a mere 2 supervised hours. I don’t get any alone time with my children. It is truly unfortunate that my kids have to go through this because of a broken legal system that I am fighting with everything I have in me. I don’t know what else to do, I have nothing left to give- and if I had to, I would. I am a full time waitress, a part time PMU artist and a part time caretaker and STILL there is not enough money to pay for a lawyer. There’s not even enough hours in the day for me to get a 4th job while having a full night’s rest.

At this point, I NEED a lawyer. I have been patient through this whole process, but there is only so much a person can take, let alone a mother fighting for her kids who continues to do everything right. The court won’t listen to me, but they will listen to a lawyer. My kids and I have suffered enough and I have learned my lesson 100 times over.

Please help me put this all to an end. My kids need me and I need them. Thank you in advance, but more importantly thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Recovery is possible.

I am living proof of that. Peace & Love.