Help Rachel Keep Donovan
Donation protected
First of all, I want to say I am so blessed to have the people that I have in my life. I am so grateful and humbled. Thank you for coming to this page.
My name is Rachel, and my son Donovan and I need your help. Shortly after my little baby was born, I moved closer to my family in Ohio from Los Angeles because I was in a scary situation with Donovan’s father. I have raised my son in Ohio for 3 years on my own as peacefully as possible... and then something changed. D's father demanded full custody about a year ago, and I've been battling him ever since. I am currently drowning in legal fees due to a bitter custody dispute that I never expected. There aren't grounds for him to ask for full custody, but he is lying to the court about me in order to hurt me. He succeeded in getting full custody (for a time) of his other child from a past relationship this way 5 years ago, and I'm afraid he'll do it again.
My family (and my son) is everything to me. I have never loved anything or anyone so much in my life. He is smart, imaginative, funny, sweet and special – I can’t imagine my life without him. But I lie awake every night afraid that because I can’t afford the astounding legal expenses associated with this custody battle – I will be bulldozed into financial ruin and have no means to fight back. Even though there is no cause for the court to take my son away from me, I am forced to respond to the suit, but against expansive wealth and power on the other side, I am afraid I won't have the means to properly fight back. At this point, I can say... I DONT have the means to keep fighting.
Despite my offers to have shared custody, shared parenting, time and fairness.. Donovan's dad keeps insisting he have the child full time and is publicly spreading lies about me (and D). Even when he had visitation in the past, he has often canceled on his son or demanded that I come along on the visitation. The sad truth is, this case isn't about Donovan- it's about punishing me for leaving.
I can't let this happen. Donovan is my buddy, my friend, my light, my son. After the suit was filed last year, I have tried my best to stay afloat and keep raising this beautiful boy with happiness. As a single mother, who gets no child support, it is challenging enough to provide for all of my son’s needs without this additional outrageous expense. Donovan’s father is incredibly wealthy and is intentionally filing actions to drag the dispute on and on, in an attempt to wear me down. I now owe tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and expect to incur many thousands more. I have seen him succesfully manipulate the legal system in the past, and I'm afraid he will do it again.
I won't go into any more detail about my relationship with Donovan's father other than to say it has been terrifying, extremely painful, and traumatizing. I have been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of what happened during the relationship. I am determined to fight for myself, and fight for my son – and I'm asking for your help to do it. Anything you could do to help would mean a lot to little D and I. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
-Eternally Grateful, Rachel
P.S. I want to thank my friend Will for making video and convincing me to put this site up despite my reluctance- Donovan and I appreciate it more than you know.
My name is Rachel, and my son Donovan and I need your help. Shortly after my little baby was born, I moved closer to my family in Ohio from Los Angeles because I was in a scary situation with Donovan’s father. I have raised my son in Ohio for 3 years on my own as peacefully as possible... and then something changed. D's father demanded full custody about a year ago, and I've been battling him ever since. I am currently drowning in legal fees due to a bitter custody dispute that I never expected. There aren't grounds for him to ask for full custody, but he is lying to the court about me in order to hurt me. He succeeded in getting full custody (for a time) of his other child from a past relationship this way 5 years ago, and I'm afraid he'll do it again.
My family (and my son) is everything to me. I have never loved anything or anyone so much in my life. He is smart, imaginative, funny, sweet and special – I can’t imagine my life without him. But I lie awake every night afraid that because I can’t afford the astounding legal expenses associated with this custody battle – I will be bulldozed into financial ruin and have no means to fight back. Even though there is no cause for the court to take my son away from me, I am forced to respond to the suit, but against expansive wealth and power on the other side, I am afraid I won't have the means to properly fight back. At this point, I can say... I DONT have the means to keep fighting.
Despite my offers to have shared custody, shared parenting, time and fairness.. Donovan's dad keeps insisting he have the child full time and is publicly spreading lies about me (and D). Even when he had visitation in the past, he has often canceled on his son or demanded that I come along on the visitation. The sad truth is, this case isn't about Donovan- it's about punishing me for leaving.
I can't let this happen. Donovan is my buddy, my friend, my light, my son. After the suit was filed last year, I have tried my best to stay afloat and keep raising this beautiful boy with happiness. As a single mother, who gets no child support, it is challenging enough to provide for all of my son’s needs without this additional outrageous expense. Donovan’s father is incredibly wealthy and is intentionally filing actions to drag the dispute on and on, in an attempt to wear me down. I now owe tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and expect to incur many thousands more. I have seen him succesfully manipulate the legal system in the past, and I'm afraid he will do it again.
I won't go into any more detail about my relationship with Donovan's father other than to say it has been terrifying, extremely painful, and traumatizing. I have been diagnosed with PTSD as a result of what happened during the relationship. I am determined to fight for myself, and fight for my son – and I'm asking for your help to do it. Anything you could do to help would mean a lot to little D and I. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
-Eternally Grateful, Rachel
P.S. I want to thank my friend Will for making video and convincing me to put this site up despite my reluctance- Donovan and I appreciate it more than you know.
Organizer
Rachel Owens
Organizer
Dublin, OH