Samantha was born in June 2013 to my brother, a career criminal, and Chelsea, a career addict, in Mt Vernon Washington. In February of 2015 the State of Washington contacted me, the paternal aunt, to get custody of Samantha. I was the closest eligible family member, as everyone else in our bloodline has felony charges on their records. Sammy spent months in different places and finally with her maternal grandmother in WA. But she too had a criminal record and the state of WA was hesitant to give guardianship. Grandma jumped through hoops, classes, to make things right to provide for Samantha. The state decided to keep Sammy with grandma, since I hadn't met her in the 18 months of her life.
Tim and his wife both continue to struggle with legal matters and drugs to this day. Sammy has spent the majority of her life in "Papa Toms" trailer, an ex-bf of grandma and a somewhat stable place. In 2022, her mother, Chelsea, suffered extensive physical and mental damage due to a brain tumor, she almost didn't make it. Since then, Sammy has lived in numerous places, sharing beds with friends, sleeping on couches, and moving between different schools. School is difficult when your home life is unstable, school is especially hard for Sammy because of fighting, violent threats, general behavioral problems like disrespect, disobedience, and insubordination & with grandma too!
In mid 2023 Sammy got snapchat, that's when she and I began communicating without a third party. In October 2025 over the phone from prison, my brother told me that Sammy was self-harming and continuously acting out in school. She has tried to OD on benadryl, cuts herself to cope, has zero respect for authority, or herself, and zero boundaries. In December 2025 Sammy expressed that she wanted to come to Florida with me, instead of South Dakota with her current guardian. We had never met, so this was concerning. I began texting her mother, Chelsea, to verify if any of this information was true, which she more than confirmed. I began planning a trip across the country to see for myself.
January 2026 my cousin and I flew to Washington to evaluate the situation after very concerning texts from Sammy and her mother regarding their current living situation. After a large family dinner at Olive Garden, and a weekend of talking to multiple people around town, I decided to go to the courthouse Monday for emergency custody. I’ll spare the court chaos details.
Fast forward to February, I flew Sammy home to Florida, bought her new clothes, underwear, socks, bras, makeup, hairproducts, hygiene products, bathing suit, clothes, a dresser to keep everything, school supplies, and all the other things a person needs. Signed her up for soccer, to exert anger energy. Enrolled in adolescent counseling at UCF for weekly sessions. Called Tele health to get her a psych evaluation and started on medication -that she requested for her brain. The Seminole county sheriff got Sammy a case worker after the second school suspension here. Moving locations does not immediately stop behaviors.
The School has been difficult; double the size, double the population, outside class switch instead of inside, a completely different coast, style, and type of people out here. She's been in trouble every week, (I get a call at least once a day from a teacher, AP, Dean or Nurse) suspended 6 times, and a few weeks ago, She was baker acted by the deputy on campus. After a week in Universal Behavior Center, doubling her medications, adding a new one, and increasing therapies, she only calmed down a tiny bit. This is only the basic aspects of her life over the last 11 weeks in Florida at our home.
As many of you know, we now have a family of six people in a 1000 square foot home. My eldest daughter opened her room and trundle bed to Sammy. Everyone in our house is sharing a small room in our cozy home. We rely on one income, my husband. Lex is a college student, working part time, who can not afford to move out in this economy.
My cousin in Georgia who helped me through all this, my in-law family, and my community, have been working together trying to help Sammy get acclimated in Florida. This transition has been very trying, for everyone. The medical costs alone for a mentally ill 12 year old has been astronomical. We have come to the conclusion we need financial help to build out the garage into another room to accommodate this family. Since we have already maxed out our savings bringing Sammy here and our credit cards getting her established, we need help building another bed room and furthering Sammy's medical journey to healing. Below is an estimate of costs.
Florida‑Based Construction Cost Estimate (Including New Garage Door)
A safe, code‑compliant garage conversion in Florida typically costs:
- Framing, insulation, drywall: $4,500 – $7,000
- Electrical work: $1,800 – $3,000
- HVAC (mini‑split or duct extension): $3,500 – $6,000
- Flooring: $1,200 – $2,000
- Hurricane‑rated door & egress window: $2,000 – $4,000
- New hurricane‑rated garage door: $2,500 – $4,500
- Moisture/mold‑resistant materials: $800 – $1,500
- Paint & finishing: $800 – $1,200
- Basic furnishings: $500 – $1,000
Total Estimated Cost: $17,000 – $28,000
This is not a luxury renovation — it’s the minimum needed to create a safe, healthy bedroom that meets Florida’s building standards.
What Your Support Helps Cover
Your support will help with:
- Legal fees for guardianship
- Therapy and mental‑health services not fully covered by insurance
- Clothing, school supplies, and essentials Sammy arrived without
- Medical appointments and assessments
- Daily living expenses for a household suddenly supporting a fourth child
- The garage‑to‑bedroom conversion, giving both girls the space and stability they need.
What Your Help Means
Your support tells Sammy she is not alone.
It tells Kristina that her willingness to step up for a child in crisis is seen and supported.
It helps our family give Sammy the stability she has never had — and the chance to grow into the strong, bright young woman she is meant to be. We will be printing everyone's responses here, for her important paperwork binder, so she can SEE the support. Sunshine state Sammy is going to succeed with your help.
From Our Hearts — Thank You
Thank you for reading, sharing, donating, and caring.
Thank you for believing that every child deserves safety, stability, and love.
And thank you for helping us build a home where Sammy can finally breathe, heal, and belong.
Kristina J. Laucks Dixon
Aunt and caregiver for Sammy Laucks