Reunite with my 13 year old daughter

Hi, my name is Symphony Grace. I am reaching out for assistance in my GoFundMe campaign for covering the costs to reunite with my 13 year-old daughter Sonata, whom I have not seen at all since 2019. The funds raised will be used for a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, which health insurance will not cover and is a necessary step before beginning the reunification process with my precious daughter. Sonata is now 13 years old, and I haven't seen her since 2019.

Let me provide you with some background information. In 2016, my life was turned upside down when my husband of 13 years filed for divorce and an Immediate Danger Order which was granted due to my dependency on Oxycodone, which I was legally prescribed for 10 years after a car accident. The divorce left me destitute with no alimony, no child support and without my daughter who I spent nearly every day with during the first five years of her life.

In 2019, without my daughter in my life, I found myself sinking deeper into sadness and grief. I was still taking my prescribed medication, and my ex-husband prevented me from speaking to Sonata or sending her gifts. In an attempt to find peace in my life, I moved to Madras, Oregon where I experienced a life-changing moment of divine intervention. I heard the voice of God, and in that moment, I knew He existed and that I would be reunited with my children. Little did I know the challenging journey that awaited me. Jesus saved me, but I had to put in the work. I shared my experience with my roommate, and as a result, I was committed to a psychiatric hospital for a week.

This was not my last hospital stay. From 2019 to 2021, I was hospitalized in five different psychiatric wards on six different occasions. Once released, I found myself homeless with nowhere to go, with nothing to my name. Despite the hardships, I felt Jesus with me every step of the way. I lived in a tent under the Steel Bridge in Portland for nine months, where I faced numerous challenges. Physical assaults left me with a broken rib and multiple black eyes. The sexual harrassment was near constant by men hoping to take advantage of me and I thank God I was never raped while homeless.

Eventually, I moved to a safer area in NE Portland and found solace at the Simone Weil Catholic Worker house, where I met incredible people who became my family. My best friend, Ben, heard my story and has been dedicated to helping me reunite with my daughter. On January 11, 2022, my tent was burned down intentionally and I had a vision telling me to go back to court to try and right this injustice.

Ben has been by my side, offering encouragement and support throughout this journey. When he was offered a job as the Executive Director at St. Francis Retreat in California, he helped me leave the streets behind and move to the retreat. I volunteered my time in exchange for housing at the retreat, which allowed me to heal mentally, emotionally, and spiritually over the course of nine months. However, in August of 2023, it was time for me to return to Oregon and continue fighting for my daughter in court.

By September 2023, I obtained a job as Property Manager of two apartment complexes in Beaverton. The Catholic Workers provided me a 0% loan allowing me to purchase a reliable used car. I moved into my own apartment in October which I have slowly furnished with donated items.

I have represented myself in court since April 2022 in simply attempting to see my daughter for more than 2 hours every three weeks. My ex-husband is in gross violation of the parenting plan and will not permit me to send her birthday gifts, attend her band recitals, talk to her teachers or medical providers. All of this is in violation of our divorce agreement and parenting plan.

However, our legal system does not favor the poor. I faced numerous barriers imposed by my ex-husband and his well-paid attorney. I have self-represented myself in court for nearly two years, and my last hearing on November 20, 2023, allowed me to progress to the next stage.

The judge recognized my healing and accomplishments, all driven out of an eternal love for my daughter. I am have been sober from opiates since September 4, 2019, employed, housed, and finally receiving quality medical care. The court is still requires me to undergo a complete psychological assessment by a forensic psychiatrist, who will testify to the findings in court at my next hearing on March 18, 2024.

Finding a psychiatrist who can perform this assessment and is approved by my ex-husband's attorney has been challenging, but I have found one who is willing to do it for $3,000. Unfortunately, my medical insurance does not cover this cost, and although my job allows me to live comfortably, I do not have the funds to cover the assessment. I have been employed for only a few months and have not been able to build a savings yet. I need to raise the $3,000 by January 31, 2024.

I am determined to overcome this final obstacle and be reunited with my daughter. It has been seven long years, and I am ready to be with my children again. Any assistance towards reaching this goal would be greatly appreciated. If you would like more information about my case, it can be found in Washington County, Oregon, under case number 16DR19286. Thank you for your consideration and support.