A Mother's Battle for Her Son

Hi, my name is Lauren, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my sister Katelyn and her sweet little boy, Karter. I say “older sister” with a smile, because though Katelyn and I are adopted and only two weeks apart, I've always felt a deep responsibility to look out for her. We’ve been through thick and thin together, and now, we’re facing the toughest battle of our lives—one that we can't win alone. We need $5,000 by August 8 to be able to keep our fantastic lawyer, who's been an incredible advocate for Katelyn!

Katelyn has been fighting a relentless battle with a monster many of us are familiar with—alcoholism. It’s a beast that creeps in when you’re struggling with your identity, when past pains resurface, or when you’re overwhelmed by loss. For Katelyn, the monster roared the loudest when our father, Dennis Joseph Bull, passed away. He was her rock, and without him, she found herself spiraling. Despite the darkness, she never denied the existence of her monster. She just didn’t think she had the strength to fight it—until January 25, 2019, the day Karter Joseph Bull was born.

Karter was named after our father, and from the moment he came into this world, he became Katelyn’s reason to fight. But the road hasn’t been easy. After our dad passed away, Katelyn’s struggles led to two DUI charges. She never put Karter in harm’s way—he was always safe with family—but Katelyn knew she needed help to prevent it. She asked the Ottawa County Court to sentence her to the Recovery Court program, a rigorous 18-month probation program designed to help people like her break free from the chains of addiction. However, because her charges weren’t felonies, she didn’t qualify. So, in an act of sheer bravery and love for her son, Katelyn pleaded guilty to a higher charge—just so she could get the help she needed.

During this time, our family's emotional, financial, and living situation made us think about our cousin, who was a single woman and owned her own home. She was very close to my oldest daughter and me, and we trusted her as well as my aunt and uncle completely. Katelyn made the incredibly difficult decision to give our cousin temporary guardianship of Karter, with the understanding that they would be reunited once Katelyn had completed the program. It was never meant to be permanent. Katelyn poured herself into the program, making remarkable progress with the goal of being a woman she could be proud of and the mother Karter deserved.

But when it came time for Karter to come home about 2 years ago, our cousin refused to let him go. Despite Katelyn’s readiness and the court's acknowledgment of her progress, our cousin fought to keep Karter, even hiring a lawyer and taking the battle to Circuit Court. The judge, seeing Katelyn's dedication, ordered shared custody with the promise that full reunification would be considered in August 2024 if she continued on her path.

Now, we’re here, and Katelyn is 3 years sober and has held up her end of the bargain. She’s fought her monster every single day, staying on top of her recovery, and doing everything in her power to be the best mom she can be. But despite this, our cousin is still fighting to keep Karter, and the legal battle has drained our family’s resources. We've spent over $12,000 in court fees, and with the case still ongoing, we need your help to keep fighting.

Katelyn is more than just a mother fighting for her son—she’s an inspiration, a testament to what it means to never give up. Her journey is one of resilience, love, and the relentless pursuit of redemption. We’re asking for your support, not just financially, but in standing with us in this fight for justice. No mother who has fought so hard for herself and her child should have to fight alone.

Please consider donating to help us reunite Katelyn and Karter, and to show that there is still kindness and fairness in this world. Every dollar brings us one step closer to bringing this little boy back to the arms of the mother who loves him more than anything.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us. For believing in second chances, and for helping us write the next chapter in Katelyn and Karter’s story—one where love and justice prevail.

With love & gratitude,

The younger "older" sister