Please Help Shelley & Siam

Fundraising campaign by Michelle Smith
  • US$8,760.00
    raised of $15,000.00 goal goal
58% Funded
105 Donors

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities

Show more
Show less

Hi Friends,

Thanks for taking a moment to read our story. We need your help!

Many of you know a little bit about what my 2.5 year old son Siam and I have been through since my pregnancy. None of you know the complete story; I only rarely confided small pieces of our truth here and there. If I have told you (or you have witnessed) something of our experiences and the threats to our stability and wellbeing, I thank you for making me feel safe enough to share that. I isolated myself tremendously through this difficult time as I struggled alone to try to “fix” things, and I’m so grateful for each of you who provided me with small moments of connection and care along the way. Truly, your support held me up through it all, and helped me reach this place where I am strong enough to stand up, honor and protect myself and my son as I should have done long ago.

Siam and I are at home now in Michigan, living with our family. We are blessed with a comfortable home, we have all we need in this moment, and Siam is delighted at sharing his days with loving grandparents. It’s a good place for us at this time.

I have filed legal proceedings here in the US for our protection and to establish custody of Siam. I do not wish to keep Siam from knowing his father, but, I do need to keep him safe and provide a healthy environment for his growth and happiness.

We need help with our legal expenses. I’m a bit insecure about sharing our story here and asking for assistance, but it’s the only way I can see to raise the funds. My parents are generously supporting us as much as they can through this process but they don’t have the means to provide everything. We need more help.

I know all of you in different ways: some of you are my teachers, my peers, my students, some of you my family, some my friends. Most of you I would call a combination of these. You may be aware that I have lived very simply for several years in my pursuit and practice of yoga, and in dedication to sharing traditional spiritual practices to support positive change in myself, my students, our communities, and our world. If our connection has brought anything positive into your life, if I have inspired you or taught you something that has benefitted you, if you can relate to my story in any way, or if Siam’s sweet smile (or mine!) has at some moment brightened your day, I ask you to please help us now.

Please donate if you can. Every little bit will help! I have given to many for personal or professional fundraisers over the years, some of you who I don’t even know personally but I felt called to help when I saw you were in need. I have spoken with many of you over the years about following our hearts to do what we believe is good and worthy work in this world and having faith that, in exchange for what we give, we will receive everything we need. I need something now that is beyond the personal resources my work has provided me. Please help us.

I am asking to raise $15,000 for our legal expenses. It’s a complicated situation and we have already spent more than I had imagined it could possibly cost! I believe this entire amount will be needed to pay the legal team supporting us. If we are blessed with a shorter process than anticipated and have any part of your gifts left over, they will be very gratefully used toward supporting Siam and I in getting back on our feet and creating a happy new home, work and life together.

Please donate if you can; truly, even very small donations are meaningful and will add up to help us! I trust that those of you who can help us, will help us, as you are able. Please.

And whether you are able to donate or not… Please send your support, positive thoughts, and prayers for Siam and I to be safe and together, happy and free.

Thank you, with love.

Shelley & Siam

Organizer

  • Michelle Smith
  •  
  • Campaign Owner

Donors

  • Emma Steele
  • Donated on Nov 26, 2016
  • Good luck Shelley and thank you for being an inspiring teacher

$10.00
  • Maureen Cosgrove
  • Donated on Nov 25, 2016
  • Love and prayers to you dear Shelley and Siam.

$100.00
  • Jennifer Olaughlin
  • Donated on Nov 25, 2016
$50.00
Nov 20

Here we go again...

Update posted by Michelle Smith at 12:37 am

Hello friends. Here we are in November, seasons changing, Siam growing, and me rebuilding, in a world that looks more and more like another planet than simply a different country. I'm grounding but also realizing just how far outside of this type of existence we have been. I miss the. . . . .

See update
0
Oct 24

We're still here and we are so grateful for you!!!

Update posted by Michelle Smith at 01:38 am

Hello Friends, We have only 2 days left here on our fundraiser. I’d like to share an update on where we are and what’s going on. We are very grateful for the generous contributions we have received here, and we do still need more help, so I will continue to. . . . .

See update
0
Oct 05

Day 10: Big Gratitude!

Update posted by Michelle Smith at 08:02 pm

10 days in... we are so touched and delighted by the kind support we have received here! We've been through more court dates since I created the fundraiser, and it is an enormous relief to know I can now pay the lawyers when the next invoices come. I am still. . . . .

See update
0
Sep 27

Big Love!

Update posted by Michelle Smith at 02:41 am

Day 1 and WOW we are already 20% to our goal!!! Big thanks and big love to every one of you for your kind thoughts, uplifting words, and generous support. I thought receiving this money to help us would be an incredibly valuable gift... but now I realize the even

See update
0

Donors & Comments

105 donors
  • Emma Steele
  • Donated on Nov 26, 2016
  • Good luck Shelley and thank you for being an inspiring teacher

$10.00
  • Maureen Cosgrove
  • Donated on Nov 25, 2016
  • Love and prayers to you dear Shelley and Siam.

$100.00
  • Jennifer Olaughlin
  • Donated on Nov 25, 2016
$50.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Nov 25, 2016
Amount Hidden
  • Guest
  • Donated on Nov 24, 2016
$50.00
  • Stacey Memije
  • Donated on Nov 24, 2016
$20.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Nov 24, 2016
  • 💚💚💚

$25.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Nov 20, 2016
  • You probably don't remember me - I was one of the many student who came through the yoga retreat on Koh Phangan, and I asked a million questions about the mula bahnda. I got so much out of that short time, and spent so very little. I hope this helps, and am thinking about you and your little boy. Good luck, and keep your head up.

$50.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Nov 08, 2016
$15.00
  • Guest
  • Donated on Nov 05, 2016
$10.00
Show more donors

Followers

31 followers
Christy Futch
Денис Власенко
Angelika Anagnostou
Mannu Espinosa
Aleksandra Jurkiewicz
Cathy Moran
Annie Oberstar
Eve Em
Steven Connor
Linda van de Donk
Show more Followers
US$8,760.00
raised of $15,000.00 goal
58% Funded
105 Donors

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities