In 2017, My world changed in a way I never could have imagined. My son Ayden was murdered by his biological father. At the time, my son Xavier was only two years old and was lying in the bed next to him during the murder. That day altered the course of our lives forever, and since then my focus has been on protecting Xavier and giving him a life filled with safety, love, and stability.

Jalen came into our lives and ever since then, he has been Dad. He showed up without hesitation and has loved, supported, and raised Xavier as his own. Not once has he walked away, even when things were hard. To Xavier, he has always been Dad in every way that matters.

We truly believed the adoption process would be simple, given everything that has happened. Unfortunately, it has not been. We have been advised to hire an attorney to make sure everything is handled correctly and without unnecessary delays, especially now that members of Xavier’s biological paternal family are trying to stop the termination of his biological father’s parental rights. Even after the heinous crime he committed.

This adoption is about protecting a child who has already endured more than any child should. It is about making sure Xavier can grow up feeling secure, loved, and safe, and that the father who has been there for him every day is legally recognized as his father.

We are humbly asking our village for support to help cover attorney fees so we can move forward and do this the right way. Any support, whether through donations, sharing, or prayers, truly means more than we can express.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for standing with our family during this deeply important chapter of our lives.