Support Ayleen's Fight for Child Custody

*******Update*******

I was unable to get an attorney and will be representing myself however I am still reaching out for help on travel expenses from Texas to South Dakota. My hearing is this Friday June 28th. If you are able to help, it is greatly appreciated! If you are unable to donate I kindly ask if you can share my story. Either way thank you for reading my story.

My name is Ayleen and I am desperately attempting to raise funds for a child custody attorney. I have two kids, my son Caleb (10) and my daughter Kinsley (7). Our family resided in South Dakota when I was in a relationship with the children’s dad for 11 years. On January 9th, 2023 the father almost ended my life by strangulation he strangled me to the point where I urinated myself. I was too scared to call law enforcement and showed up to work the following day where my colleagues had noticed the bruises and marks on my face. A couple of days later I started spitting up a lot of blood and had chest pain to the point where I called into work. My work had made a welfare check on me and the cops showed up and noticed the bruises and marks and led to the point of the father being arrested and in jail for 5 weeks. Since then I worked on saving up to leave this relationship for good. I got my apartment with my kids and continued to save to leave the state. Fast forward to June 2024 and I was able to move from South Dakota to Texas without having to inform the father due to his domestic violence conviction. It wasn’t until the day before the move that I received a knock on the door that he was taking me to court for joint custody, asking judge to deny my move, and a child support modification. You can imagine the devastation as I have used all my funds to make this move happen and now I may have to move back and share custody with a man that cannot control his impulsive actions. This man was just evaluated in November of 2023 for his abusive behavior and resulted in a high risk that he will likely do it again. March of 2024 he broke our no contact and went to jail again. After that he would show up at the kids school knowing I pick them up and sit in his car and just watch me. I am in desperate need and don’t have any family to help. I have finally found an attorney after many declined taking my case and he is asking for 5,000 retainer. If you can find it in your heart to donate even $5 it would be a tremendous help. Thank you for reading my story.