Save J girl : It’s in the love not just the blood!

Let me introduce myself. My name is Jamie and I am a single mother to 6 amazing children, 5 that I carried in my body and one that God brought into my life after she was born. That little girl is my J. I am raising funds to hire an attorney to fight for me to continue to be a momma to my little girl. Recently my guardianship case was moved from state court to tribal court because she is Native American and an enrolled member of Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. I have found an attorney who is willing to represent me in tribal court but as a single mom with 3 jobs I am not able to afford such an expense. We discussed cost and the retainer is $3,500 alone. I told my J girl that I will do anything and never stop fighting for her so this was my only avenue, to seek support from those who want what I do...a safe, stable, sober and loving family for J. That is what we are, my children and I, a loving happy family and without her we are not complete because she is my daughter and she is loved deeply by her brother’s and sister. My plea is urgent as I do not know when our first court hearing will be and so far have not had much communication with those who are trying to place her elsewhere. I want to say thank you to those who have supported me and continue to support me in this fight. A family is not always about blood and blood does not always mean the best environment but love, love is more than blood and love allows a child to flourish and live a life free of trauma. Here is J's story: J was born in 2016 in South Dakota State Women’s Prison in Pierre, SD, 1 year and 10months before she came into my life.  During her first year of life her parents were both incarcerated and her maternal grandmother was raising her.  I met her father in December 2017 after he was released from prison at an AA meeting.  We became fast friends and started dating in February 2018.  I first met J at McDonald’s in Aberdeen where we travelled to pick her up for a weekend visit with us in Sioux Falls.  She was the cutest little independent girl I had ever met.  I fell in love with her spirit the first moment I saw her.  She instantly stole my heart and we bonded right there over a cheeseburger.  Her father and I continued to take her for weekends and after a visit in June, her father knew her mother was actively using and I urged him to call CPS as his name was not on her birth certificate and that was the only way he could ensure her safety.  They did a well child check and she was removed from her home do to drugs being present and placed in the Department of Social Services custody.  This began a year and a half battle for her father to be awarded custody from her mother.  During this time J was placed in two different foster homes and we were not able to visit her until November when her father was added to her birth certificate.  At that time she was living with an amazing foster couple in Watertown, SD.  We began visits immediately and attended every court hearing.  I also found out in November that I was pregnant and in December we found out that we were having twins!  J was so excited to be a big sister!  For a year we fought tirelessly to have J placed in our home and went through a home study, multiple visits and multiple court hearings.  Due to failed reunification with her birth mother we were the next choice for placement.  On July 14, 2019 she started her transition into our home and on July 20, 2019 we welcomed her siblings, Hunter and Hazel into the world.  Going from a family of 4 to a family of 7 in a matter of days was quite an adjustment.  During this new adjustment we were still attending hearings for the Abuse and Neglect case against J's mother.  On October 31, 2019 her father was awarded full legal and physical custody of J.  After this day things started falling apart between J, Hunter and Hazel’s father and I.  Two days after he was awarded custody he left our home for a two week period and left J with me in a safe, loving environment.  We decided to try to make things work and the next few months were a struggle.  In February her father assaulted me and attempted to attack my 14 yo son.  I made him leave our home and he decided to go into treatment for his PTSD struggles.  I took him to treatment in St. Cloud, MN in February right before the COVID pandemic started.  His verbal and mental abuse became worse while he was in treatment and I ended our relationship in March.  In April he was set to be finished with treatment but also finished his parole.  After he left treatment early he went back to Aberdeen and continued using and drinking.  To protect myself and my children I filed for a temporary protection order naming all my children and including J.  Each court hearing for a permanent order kept gettinf pushed out over and over due to her father’s pending criminal charge of violating a protection order.  We finally had court July 20, 2020 and I was devastated when I was granted a permanent protection order for myself, my 4 children but was ordered to return J to her father knowing full well that he was full blown into his addiction again.  On July 21, 2020 I said goodbye to J but told her I would never stop fighting for her.  September 4, 2020 I filed an affidavit asking for emergency temporary custody of J.  A hearing was set for October 8, 2020.  On September 14 after her father was arrested on multiple assault charges that J witnessed the judge granted me temporary custody.  I was not made aware of this until October 2 and could not pick her up until October 4.  When I went to Aberdeen to bring Jhome, I asked the Aberdeen police department to accompany me to pick her up due to the active protection order.  At that time the Aberdeen PD informed me that her father and birth mother were currently in jail facing drug charges and that J had been present when they were arrested.  J was staying with her paternal grandmother at the time I went to pick her up.  I brought J home and had her back in daycare within 24 hours, she started school within a week and went to the doctor and got all her shots updated for kindergarten  in the same week.  At our court hearing to make our temporary guardianship more permanent on October 8th her birth parent’s asked for a continuance because they were trying to find an attorney and get the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribe were J is enrolled involved in the proceedings.  Six days later her birth parent’s filed a motion to transfer to tribal court.  On November 17 at 9:30am we stood in front of the honorable judge in Brown County and after a short hearing our case was transferred.  My heart broke.  I now have to find new representation to continue my fight to keep MY J GIRL home where she belongs.  She has been my daughter from the first time I met her and I will continue to fight for her to be loved and safe.  She has been in 5 homes since she has been born and her only stability has been with her Watertown foster parents and myself.  I am raising funds to hire an attorney that will represent me in tribal court and help me obtain permanent guardianship of my little girl.  I do not want to see her become another child lost to the system.  Please help me #endthetrend and fight for our J girl!