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Fighting to give my son a chance at a good life.

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Family & Friends: I have not been someone who has spoken publicly of my struggles often or asked for help. I have been blessed well beyond my hard times, but when we were young we were all taught that when you need help, you ask for it. That asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Here is what is currently going on in my life. This is my story.

As many of you know, I have a 5 year old son, Mikey. Mikey is an adorable, funny, energetic, good hearted boy about to start Kindergarten in the fall. He has been residing in a government funded, low end Motel for the past 3 years with his mother, her husband, and twin toddler siblings.  All 5 of them residing in ONE room. In the room there are 2 beds, a mini fridge, and a bathroom where his mother washes their dishes in the bathtub. It is run down, dirty with bed bugs and drug abusers, it no place for a young child to grow and flourish. It’s not an appropriate ‘home’ for my 5 year old to live in, nor any child.

His mother refuses to co parent or has any communication with me. She makes me go through her husband. Her husband does all drop offs. Their family of 5 has a vehicle that seats 2. If there was ever an emergency, they all wouldn’t be able to fit in their vehicle. His mother and step father are voluntarily not employed, therefore it is all 5 of them in that room, all day, every day. This is extremely unhealthy. He is brainwashed and confined. There is no stove, no play area, nothing. He was pulled out of school almost 2 years ago and has regressed with his basic skills. His mother has been feeding him sleep aids on a regular basis which can greatly affect his sleep patterns and brain function. His skin smells like smoke when I pick him up and his socks are black on the bottom when I take his shoes off. These are only a few of the things that are occurring which led me to ask for Full Custody of Mikey and get him out of this situation immediately. I am worried and scared for my son.

Even though he is of Kindergarten age, he doesn’t know his basic colors, shapes, numbers and basic social skills that should be acquired by his age. No one is teaching him or nurturing his mind besides when he is residing with me, every other weekend. When he is with me it is hard for him to focus on learning when I only get him for 72 hours and various other occasions.  If he was with me all of the time, he would have a routine and be learning daily.

When Mikey is at my home he has a taste of a normal life. He has fruits and vegetables with all of his meals and has a dog with a huge backyard to run around in. His own private space, bathroom, kitchen, and living room. We like to go to the park, go places, read books, and try to undo everything he is used to at the motel in the time we have together. If he lived with me he would be enrolled in Kindergarten down the street, T-Ball (because he can hit a ball like his daddy), and have a chance at a normal childhood. This boy deserves a chance.

I have acquired a very reputable attorney to help me get my son out of this situation and into my home where he would be nurtured, loved, and cared for. As a father, I will do everything in my power to get custody of my son and out of the situation he is in. That is my duty as his parent.

The situation is so bad, the Court appointed a Best Interest Psychological Evaluator, which is my responsibility to pay for in full. The cost of the Evaluator is $6,000. It took a long time to save the money for the attorney and with the Evaluator; I have exhausted all of my financial resources and need to reach out to my friends and family, or really any one reading this who would like to impact a 5 year old boy’s life in the best possible way.

The Evaluator represents the Court, as an offsite judge and sees what is happening. With her written report, I will be able to give my son the life he deserves.

I am appreciative of you taking the time to read this let alone considering helping my situation. I am appreciative of absolutely anything; this Go Fund Me is my only hope of raising this money.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Mike


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Donations 

  • Peter Toscano
    • $25 
    • 4 yrs
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Organiser

Michael Schwerdt
Organiser
Hawthorne, NJ

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