Fighting for my Baby Boy

Hi, my name is Madison, and this is by far the most vulnerable request I've ever made in an open forum, so please read on with an open heart. The details are as follows --

I have full custody and have been the primary caregiver of my infant son for the first 4 months of his life. I love him more than I've loved anything in the entire world. I love his soft skin and the smell of his breath, I love nursing him, caring for him, and lulling him to sleep. Anybody who knows me closely can attest to this -- I am an excellent mother who goes above and beyond for the sake of my child. I made the mistake of confessing to my ex-partner that I was having intrusive thoughts about our child, symptomatic of post-partum depression. He went on to use that confession against me when a domestic dispute broke out in our home on November 28th, where I eventually called the police because I feared our feud was getting out of hand. When police questioned him about what happened, he used my declining mental health as leverage against me, telling officers that I was actively threatening our child's safety (which is not and has never been true.) However, because I admitted to having intrusive thoughts which are symptomatic of postpartum depression, he has been able to use that against me to the fullest extent. I have since sought help for my symptoms and I wish I would have done so much sooner.

This is why mothers don't talk about postpartum depression.

That said, an unlawful 3-month restraining order has been placed against me on behalf of the child based on false allegations. I know he is going to use the restraining order against me in a custody dispute, which was his intention in filing in the first place, as I had full custody (we're not married in Wisconsin.) I was unable to retain counsel for the initial hearing due to financial restrictions, and as such, I did not properly present my case and lost the dismissal. I cannot go on fighting this case without legal counsel, which is where I'm seeking help. I dream about my son every night and I still can't fathom that I may not see him again for another few months. This is the time where he's meant to be choosing attachment, and it breaks my heart to think that I can't be there. The consequences of our separation will be long-term, and as such I will not stop fighting this case, but I need your help.

I don't have the resources within my family to borrow money to retain counsel, which is why I'm making my last-resort move in reaching out to the community, who I hope can hear my story. My only hope is to hire a fantastic attorney who can represent me and prove to the court that this separation of mother and infant is completely unlawful and traumatic for both myself and my son. I understand that this is a really sensitive request and that a child is involved -- I'm trying to be as transparent as possible without giving too much public detail, but if you have any questions or concerns before choosing to donate, please don't hesitate to reach out.

$5,000 would cover the cost to retain a good lawyer + basic life expenses, as I had to start all over after suddenly being asked to vacate my own home. I have next to nothing now. And all I really want is my little baby boy, who has never come into harms way in my care. Every day without him is a slow ache. I would beg anyone for help if that's what it came to, so thank you in advance for your generosity.