I need help

Hello. I am a 41-year old mother of 4 beautiful children ages 4 months, 5, 16, and 22. My 5 year old is a bright little girl who recently started kindergarten this past September. My 16 year old is a 11^th grader and doing very well academically and my 22 year old is currently serving in the US Army.

I am writing out of desperation for financial help with my legal fees. For the past 5 years, I have been in and out of court trying not to lose custody of my youngest daughter to her father, my ex-fiancé. Until now, I have been able to manage legal fees but I can no longer manage on my own. So here I am putting my pride aside to reach out for help. What else do I have to lose?

To give you a little background information, my daughter was 3 months old at the time her father and I split up. I made the hard decision to leave him but it was really in the best interest of me and my children to get out of the situation. It was never my plan to take her away from her father. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. He has been on a mission to gain full custody of our daughter at all costs ever since our breakup. Imagine the sleepless nights I had in fear that I would lose custody of my 3 month old. What is probably unimaginable for most, I have endured for the past 5 years.

My daughter’s father had more money and resources than I had to put up this custodial fight but what he didn’t have was God’s favor and a mother’s love, which was way powerful than any weapon he tried to use against me. Winning full primary custody in our recent custody case was clear evidence!

We shared custody until the judge, in his most recent ruling, ordered that our daughter remain with me primarily with her father having visitation. After hearing both of our testimonies, it was apparent to the judge that it was in our daughter’s best interest to be with me primarily.

The ruling was a relief and an answer to my prayer that “no weapon formed against me shall prosper.” Unfortunely, the fight doesn’t end there. My daughter’s father has appealed the decision, which means even more legal fees.

I currently owe over $5,000 in legal fees. I am at a point where I am struggling to keep up with my legal fees as I still have a household to maintain. I’m finding it difficult to do both but I am determined not to give up.

I’m coming to you in desperation to ask for your help. I would appreciate any assistance you could provide. If not financial assistance, then please prayer for my strength and endurance. Thank you in advance.

Blessings!