Help Protect these Babies and their Mom

Hi, My name is Tiffany and I am fundraising for my co-worker and friend, Tana. She is in desperate need of a lawyer ASAP.

Tana and her three children; Lexi, Kaidence, and Brantlee, are survivors of Domestic Violence. "Cookie Cutter" Domestic Violence. The kind where it went on for over 10 years and very few people knew. This little family lived in constant terror for so long that they still show very serious signs of PTSD almost daily. Their abuser (the children's father and Tana's ex-husband) gradually spiraled over time and the abuse got worse, more apparent, and even more unpredictable. If it weren't for the unpredictability of his last attack, they might still be living in that nightmare.

Long story short, he was arrested, charged with Domestic Battery in the Presence of a Child, and eventually pleaded guilty. As most abusers do, he has made everything about himself and nothing about what's in the best interest of his children. It seems like I'm always witnessing Tana upset, crying, or just plain stressed out because of things he is still doing over two years later that are affecting her and the children. After a long fight in court with a lot of testimony and proof, he was awarded supervised visitation. These children are absolutely terrified of their father and I just don't understand why anyone, let alone a judge, would ever think that visitation of any kind would be a good idea when these children were abused as well their entire lives. I hear talk of their fears. I hear them cry. I hear them scream. I see all the same from their mother, who is trying so hard every single day to keep it together for them. Tana is constantly distracted by the financial burden that comes with being a single parent of multiple children. She works so hard at a job that she's not very appreciated at. She shows up every day and rarely misses a day. Over the last couple of years with constant court dates out of county and COVID, she is maxed out on PTO. That means she can't ever take time off to take care of her personal life. It seems like every time she gets ahead, she's notified of another court date because he wants something else.

After several months of Tana following the court order and taking her children to the visits, which they all refuse to go into, she is being taken back to court for unsupervised visitation and the possibility of being held in contempt because her children refuse to see their father. Now, I don't believe that she could be in contempt for this, but this is an example of how his attorney bullies Tana. She is terrified to not only face him, but also his lawyer at their upcoming hearing at the end of January 2022. This also means that she will have to miss work, which means missing out on making money to support her family. When she was notified that he was taking her back to court, she immediately got busy looking for legal aid. Tana applied for Indiana Legal Aid based off her income and was eventually approved, but because of the lack of resources in the State of Indiana due to COVID, there aren't enough attorneys willing to take on her case pro bono. She then spent countless hours researching and calling numerous law firms and independent lawyers stating her case and asking for help. She was shot down every time because she is unable to provide them with a retainer fee or the ability to continue to pay for services if needed beyond the initial upcoming court hearing.

Tana is a dedicated, hardworking, and loving mother doing everything she possibly can to keep her children safe. She takes them to therapy weekly with a trauma specialist that she pays out of pocket for because the particular therapist isn't covered by their insurance, but her children feel safe with her. So she does what it takes to make it happen.

Not only am I proud of the mother Tana is, but I am also worried for her. I see her every day. Let's face it, we all see our co-workers more than our families, so they become our family. I see her coming in to work every morning so tired and exhausted because she too is dealing with her own trauma caused by him. She rarely sleeps. She never gets time to herself. She doesn't have opportunities to care for herself like most of us do. I can't stand back and watch her suffer like this anymore. I am asking for any donation to help Tana obtain a lawyer so she can have just a little bit of peace knowing she is supported in that court room and not so alone and scared by herself. If a monetary donation is not an option for you, then I ask that you please share their story. I know that over time Tana has become very open with her story of abuse towards her and her children and that she has made an impact in so many lives. So, it's time we all do a little something to help them.