As some of our community knows, a family tragedy in 2020 left my niece, Sophie, and I immersed in a long and painful legal battle for the last 3+ years.

Chapter 1 - Backstory

In 2017, soon after she turned six years old, I became an overnight parent to my amazing niece, Sophie.

My sister was doing her best as a single mom up until that point, but her lifelong struggles with mental illness were getting worse. This manifested in the way of chronic physical illnesses, and persistent challenges paying the bills and staying organized with all of life.

For the years leading up to this, I was an involved uncle, but once I moved back to Los Angeles in the Spring of 2017 and was able to view the scenario much more closely, it was then I realized it was time to step in.

Chapter 2 - Evaluation

Sophie moved into my house and we jumped straight into a full-on rehabilitation program.

Sophie’s nervous system was on such high alert most of the time, she couldn’t digest food or sleep through the night.

These core problems caused countless more downstream issues. Issues I later discovered had kept Sophie from attending kindergarten the year before.

Missing her first year of school meant Sophie didn’t know how to read or write, do basic math or be social with other kids.

Chapter 3 - Healing

Before we could even deal with all of the specific issues, we had to find a path forward to help Sophie feel safe in her own skin.

Weekly therapy sessions in EMDR helped a little bit, but what proved to move the needle more than anything was simply offering consistency and stability. After fostering a sense of safety, day in and day out, she was then ready to chip away, conquering her biggest fears.

By the end of the first three months, there was noticeable progress. After six months, Sophie was coping with her issues in a much more manageable way. And after nine months, she hit a stride of win after win, which fostered a sense of confidence that seemed to allow Sophie's true, unique nature to emerge for the first time.

By the one-year mark of living with me, Sophie was not only getting by, she was thriving. The insightful, hilarious improv character she was born to be had fully arrived and it was so wonderful to behold!

People would ask me about juggling all of this, being a single parent, running a business and a household, by myself, but when you're witnessing daily transformative growth, motivation is always on tap.

For the next two years, Sophie continued to excel across the board. Whether it was a school science project, Samba dancing, freestyle hip-hop, acting, comedy writing, ultimate frisbee, or soccer…. she was unstoppable.

Chapter 4 - Tragedy

Then, one day in the Spring of 2020, I received a call from the coroner that my sister had been found unresponsive in her bed.

Although my sister had been in and out of the hospital regularly with one medical condition after the other, it was still a shock to hear she had died before her 33rd birthday.

I had to tell Sophie that her mom was gone. Something that Sophie was always worried might happen.

If this wasn’t rough enough, just a few days later, things got much worse.

Chapter 5 - Litigation

Before we could begin grieving, Sophie’s biological father surfaced for the first time in years. Child Protective Services informed me that he would be taking her and moving Sophie out of state, even though they had never had a relationship.

I immediately called my attorney and just like that, a horrendous legal battle ensued.

We were still reeling from the shock of my sister’s death, but there was no time for that. We had to jump straight into warrior mode to protect Sophie.

The case ratcheted up in intensity every day. Days stretched into weeks and weeks, into months.

The process was by far worse than anything I have ever experienced. Pure hell.

Sophie was feeling more and more stressed about the threat of being ripped out of her home.

I began noticing the unraveling of all the amazing progress we had accomplished with Sophie. It was excruciating to see her regressing into coping mechanisms she had completely transcended years prior.

She went from absolutely thriving before the legal case started, to eventually being totally shut down. Having to appear on Zoom for (Covid Lockdown era) class would produce panic attacks, which then progressed into seizures. Her nervous system simply couldn’t handle all of the stress and fear of losing her family.

Sadly, Sophie stopped wanting to do any of the things she loved.

She was in survival mode, full-time, just trying to make it through the day.

There were many days, I wasn't sure how we were going to make it through. It was dark.

Then, after years of the legal system’s slow grind, we finally saw a glimpse of light at the end. A trial was set for August 2023 which would determine our fate.

Chapter 6 - Victory!

We are thrilled to share that after almost three and half years of misery, the battle is over.

The judge decided in my favor. I am now, legally, Sophie’s “Permanent Guardian.”

Chapter 7 - Paydown & Rehab

The bitter aspect of this sweet victory (and the reason for this fundraiser) …

Our attorney fees were $700 an hour for nearly 3.5 years and as you might imagine, it was tough to stay current on those monthly bills, so we have a healthy outstanding balance due.

It would be amazing to get these bills paid so we can transition to the next chapter of our lives and focus on Sophie’s healing.

If the campaign raises more than the balance of our legal bills, all proceeds will go towards healing therapies to help Sophie get back to her transcendent, brilliant, creative self.

I'm always amazed by Sophie's strength of character. Regardless of the distress she is under, she never acts like a victim. She is never unkind to others. She shows up to school and extracurricular classes, even when she's had nightmares all night long and a splitting headache.

I see Sophie’s spirit like a diamond being molded again and again by unbelievable pressures.

Over and over again, she chooses life as opposed to self-pity, bitterness and resentment.

Even though she is still hiding out in her room a lot these days, Sophie has begun the early stages of her path to healing.

Following her obsession with the Stranger Things, Netflix series, Sophie recently took up skateboarding. She has also re-entered acting and filmmaking classes.

I can’t wait to witness the stories she will share with the world after having traversed her truly epic Hero’s Journey.

The world could really use her unique gifts. All of the insights she has gained through the process of courageously facing so much pain throughout her entire life and turning it into gold, for us all.

Sophie and I have been through so much together over the last six years. We share in our unspeakable gratitude for all that we’ve learned along the way.

Thank you for being part of our journey, we promise to pay it forward, in our daily attempts to birth the more beautiful world, our hearts know is possible.