My sister has been fighting tirelessly for her little boy. She’s been raising him almost entirely on her own since he was a baby—after his father chose to leave just 30 days after he was born.

A few years ago, during a difficult time in her life, my sister reached out to her son’s father and his then-girlfriend for help. She asked if her son could stay with them temporarily so she could focus on getting back on her feet after facing some personal challenges. When the school year ended and she began enrolling her son in a school back home, like they originally agreed, his father filed for custody. He also provided the court with an incorrect address, causing my sister to miss a hearing. As a result, the court granted him temporary custody, moving my nephew three hours away from the family and community he had known his entire life.

Since then, she’s been caught in a never-ending legal battle. She’s had to leave her job, move out of state after six delays and four judge changes, and rebuild her entire life just to keep showing up in court. She’s doing everything she can, but this fight has taken an incredible toll on her—emotionally, financially, and physically.

My parents and I have been doing everything we can to help, but the costs have added up quickly—gas, travel, legal fees, and everything in between. Her attorney has gone above and beyond, continuing to fight for her even knowing how difficult things have been financially. Regardless of the outcome, our family is determined to find a way to repay her lawyer for her dedication and compassion. This entire experience has changed our family’s perspective and reminded us of what truly matters in life—standing together and fighting for the people we love.

She’s not perfect, but she’s grown immensely through everything she’s faced. Despite all the challenges, she continues to show up and fight for her son with unwavering determination. We miss having our family together and want to do everything we can to support her and help make that possible.

If you can any support you can provide will go directly toward covering the legal fees her lawyer has shouldered. Any additional contributions beyond that will be used to help her repay her parents and loved ones who have supported her throughout this journey, as well as to give back to the nonprofits that assisted her along the way.

Thank you guys so much.