Support Sasha and Jayden: Keeping a Family Together

Story

Hi, my name is Sasha, and I’m a single mom of three amazing children, ages 13, 15, and 17. For the past year or so, I’ve been going through a difficult and sudden custody battle with the father of my youngest, Jayden. He’s lived with me and his siblings throughout his entire life with the exception of a year recently. His father has been part of his life but in long distance as he moved to Arizona in 2020. In 2023, our family faced an extremely difficult decision. My son was struggling in school and behaviorally, and with careful thought and a heavy heart, I agreed with his father to our son finish the 5th grade school year in Arizona. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, and not having him around made our family feel incomplete, but we trusted and hoped the sacrifice would be worth it to help and benefit Jayden. He came home for the summer but as the start of the school year came closer, we felt he wasn’t ready quite yet and agreed he could do the 6th grade school year in Arizona with his father. After completing 6th grade, I brought my son back home to Florida. The transition was a struggle at first, but after the first few months, he’s truly thriving now more than ever. I’ve been making every effort to mend our family after the time apart. He’s now making A/B honor roll, improving on state tests, and playing on a local football team. He’s loving and respectful and looks out for others. Jayden’s teachers, friends and family have all been applauding his character and improvement, but most importantly Jayden is genuinely happy, thriving and home. If it was up to him, this is where he wants to be. Unfortunately, his father is now fighting to take him back to Arizona, and the ongoing legal battle has caused serious financial strain on our family. As a single mom, I’ve been doing everything in my absolute power to continue this fight and protect my childrens’ well-being, but I can’t do it alone anymore. To date, I’ve paid $9,000 in legal fees and am still facing another $7,000 if not more. We currently have 30 days to complete mediation and 60 days until the final judgment. As difficult as this is, I’ve exhausted all my options and am doing everything I can to keep my children together where they belong, happy and at home. If you can donate, share, or support in any way, I’d be eternally grateful. Every little bit helps as I fight to keep my family together. Thank you for reading this far and for being part of our journey. With gratitude, Sasha and family