Help Keep Sasha Safe– Legal & Recovery Fund for Her Future

Help Protect Sasha – Legal & Recovery Fund to Keep My Daughter Safe

My name is Matt Lunger, and I am the father of my beautiful daughter, Sasha and two other amazing children, Harlow & Lucas. Asking for help has never been easy for me, but right now, I have no choice— This has taken a lot out of me and put a huge financial strain on myself and my family. I need the support of my friends, family, and kind-hearted people like you to help me fight for my daughter's safety and future well-being.

Sasha is not just another child caught in a legal battle—she is a sweet, strong, and incredibly resilient little girl who has already faced more hardship in her young life than any child should. Despite everything she has been through, she still smiles, still hopes, and still dreams.

But behind that smile is a little girl who has endured neglect, instability, and trauma that no child should ever face. She has been pulled between chaos and uncertainty, told things that made her fearful and confused, and left wondering who she can trust. She deserves peace. She deserves safety. She deserves a childhood.

This is not just a custody case—this became a legal battle for my daughter’s safety when the State of Hawaii and child welfare intervened, removed Sasha from her mother and grandparents care, and placed her in foster care after multiple child welfare reports and the arrests of her mother this past year.

On January 30th, I flew to Hawaii to bring my daughter home safely after the Attorney General’s office and DHS child welfare services informed me that Sasha had been placed into state custody. I immediately stepped up to bring her home, and after reviewing DHS reports, police records, and welfare investigations, the court granted me full legal custody because it was deemed unsafe for Sasha to return to her mother or the grandparents care.

Now, Sasha’s grandparents have started a GoFundMe campaign asking for $8,000 to overturn the court’s decision—a decision that was made solely to protect her safety. Their campaign is misleading donors, hiding the real reason Sasha was removed, and using emotional manipulation to raise money for legal fees on Sasha's mother's behalf pending a contested trial that could put my daughter back into harm’s way.

I am now facing yet another court case and high-stakes trial to defend Sasha’s safety and ensure she continues to receive the care and support she needs. This is why I am asking for your help. Every dollar raised will go directly toward legal fees, therapy, and long-term recovery for Sasha for the trauma she has experienced over the last few years while in her mother's care.

The Truth About Why Sasha Was Removed From Her Mother’s Custody

This is not a case of one parent taking a child from the other. This is a case where the state of Hawaii determined Sasha’s living conditions were unsafe and removed her for protection.

Some of the reasons DHS and the courts ruled in favor of Sasha being placed in my care include:

✔️ Arrest & State Intervention – Sasha’s mother was arrested, and the state placed Sasha in foster care after determining it was unsafe for her to remain there.

✔️ Unstable & Unsafe Housing – For years, Sasha’s living situation was anything but stable. She and her mother moved frequently between unpredictable and unsafe environments, often staying with individuals I had never met—most with serious criminal histories. At times, they had no housing at all. But this last investigation uncovered even more than instability. DHS child welfare and law enforcement found hard drugs in the home and other serious concerns that no child should ever be exposed to. This was no longer just a case of an inconsistent home life.

✔️ Multiple DHS & Law Enforcement Reports – All three Hawaii DHS, California DHS, and Oregon DHS investigated concerns for Sasha’s well-being before the court granted me custody.

✔️ Mental & Emotional Trauma – Sasha was subjected to manipulation, abuse, neglect, and emotional distress for years.

✔️ Education Neglect & Instability – Sasha’s school attendance was inconsistent over the last two years, and counselors noted her emotional struggles. It came to my attention that Sasha had only been sent to school a handful of days due to the possibility of her exposing the situation or showing of bruises and marks from abuse.

This is not about me versus her mother—this is about protecting Sasha from being placed back into an environment that child welfare services and the legal system already deemed unsafe.

Where Your Donations Will Go

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

1️⃣ Legal Fees to Protect Sasha’s Custody & Safety

2️⃣ Therapy, Counseling, and Psychiatric Support for Sasha’s Recovery

Sasha has endured significant trauma and will need ongoing therapy, counseling, and psychiatric care to help her heal from the emotional distress and abuse she experienced. These treatments are not fully covered by my insurance, and I am committed to ensuring she receives the best possible care, no matter the financial strain it places on me.

3️⃣ Moving & Stability Costs to Give Sasha a Secure, Loving Home

When I flew to Hawaii to bring Sasha home on January 30th, I had to completely restructure my life to accommodate her needs—and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I am doing everything I can to ensure Sasha’s future is filled with love, safety, and emotional healing—but I am also facing a financially devastating legal battle and now against a GoFundMe-funded effort to reverse this progress.

Why This Fundraiser Matters

The other side is using false narratives, misleading donors, and crowdfunding legal fees to undo a decision that was made to protect Sasha.

Instead of acknowledging the harm and trauma Sasha has already endured, they are doubling down on their efforts to force her back into the very situation that child welfare services determined was unsafe.

✔️ This isn’t about me—it’s about Sasha’s right to be safe.

✔️ This isn’t about “custody”—it’s about protecting a child from being placed back into harm’s way.

✔️ I will never stop fighting for my daughter, but I need help to make sure we win this legal battle.

How You Can Help:

Sasha struggles with nightmares, fear of being abandoned again, and emotional scars that no child should have to carry. She is seeing a therapist to work through the trauma of her past, but this legal battle is threatening to unravel all of the progress she is making.

I cannot let this happen. I will not let her be forced back into the very environment she was rescued from. With your help, I won’t have to.

I never wanted to ask for help, but I refuse to let my child who finally feels safe for the first time, only to be told that you might have to go back to the very place that caused you pain. I can't let money be the reason my child is forced back into a situation that has already harmed her. Every donation brings me one step closer to ensuring Sasha remains safe, loved, and in a stable home.

Thank you for believing in protecting a child’s right to safety and stability and the love you guys share for my family.

With gratitude and love,

Matt