Help my son and I Keep Our Home after escaping abuse

Hi,

my name is Jake, and I’m the full-time father of my 12-year-old son, Eli — a smart, strong, and incredibly gifted boy who’s survived more pain than most people could imagine. I’m asking for your support because we’re at a breaking point, and I want to give Eli the life he deserves after everything he’s endured.

Eli came to live with me full-time after surviving years of verbal and emotional abuse — followed by over six months of complete isolation. During that time, he was cut off from me, from his friends, and from nearly all outside contact. Eventually, Eli found the courage to run to a neighbor’s house and asked them to call the sheriff. Once he shared what he had been going through, CPS was called, and he was finally brought into a safer situation — with me.

But this wasn’t the first time CPS had gotten involved.

Two years ago, Eli’s mother was arrested and later pled guilty to child endangerment after police found him asleep in her bed — surrounded by loaded automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols, all within reach and with safeties off. These discoveries were made after she had made multiple false police reports. She also failed multiple drug tests during that time. Even so, she retained custody and was granted an increase in child support — something I continued to pay while driving 9 hours each way to see my son every other weekend.

Eventually, I moved to Arkansas just to be closer to him — so he wouldn’t have to suffer through painful goodbyes and I wouldn’t miss another moment of his life. And now that he’s finally living with me full time — safe, supported, and healing — the retaliation has only escalated.

Since child support stopped, Eli’s mother made false claims to my employer, which cost me my job. She continues to drag me through expensive and abusive litigation in an effort to wear me down and punish us both — all because we’ve tried to build something better away from the chaos.

I’ve sold nearly everything that’s not essential. We’re holding on by a thread.

Eli is a special kid. He has a brilliant mind and a natural ability to reverse engineer almost anything — he’s been at the top of his class despite everything. He deserves the peace and safety he never had growing up. He deserves a stable home where he can finally just be a kid.

I’m asking for $4,000 to help us:

• Keep our rent and utilities paid so we don’t lose our home

• Cover groceries, clothing, and basic needs

• Manage legal costs to protect Eli and maintain custody while I secure stable work again

If you can donate, you’ll be helping a good kid and a devoted father trying to break a long cycle of damage and give one boy the peace he’s earned. If you can’t give, please share — even that helps more than you know.

Thank you for standing with us.

— Jake & Eli

(Real names changed for protection)