Support Vanessa's Fight for Malachi's Safety

Hello, my name is Vanessa. I am a single mother to a beautiful little boy, Malachi. Malachi is six years old. When he was 2 years old, I decided to leave the physically abusive relationship with his alcoholic father so he didn't have to witness the abuse anymore. Malachi has always been solely in my care since then, while his father picks and chooses when he wants to see him. I have always been the one to bathe him, feed him, put a roof over his head, take him to doctor and dentist appointments, help him with homework, put him in sports, and read bedtime stories with him. I was there for his first words, first steps, first day & last days of school, and all of his school functions. It's been difficult doing it alone, but waking up to his smile every day is a happiness a mother can never get anywhere else.

On September 24, 2024, his father tried to run off with him while spending time at a nearby gaming place for children. Thankfully, the police came quickly. Once his father saw them, he released Malachi and drove away. Malachi was very scared and now fears being taken and never seeing me again. We are now in an intense court battle for custody. The court battle has gotten so messy that I can no longer represent myself, and the judge urged me to seek legal representation. I've tried for weeks to find free legal aid, but they are no longer taking new cases. I do not get child support and have very few resources to pay for attorney fees. His father has 2 lawyers from a good law firm.

Attorney fees are costly, and retainers to hire a lawyer start at $3,500-$5,000. His father makes 3x what I make and can afford to argue for whatever he wants, including full custody. Our next court date is November 6, 2024. I really need a lawyer to represent me so I can get my point across without his lawyers shutting me down. I do not know the court lingo and protocols, so unfortunately, I am losing this case without a lawyer. Please, if you can donate anything, I would really appreciate it with all my heart. Please, any penny helps.

Sincerely, a loving mother who wants to protect her child