Posted on 09/25/2009 2:05:26 AM PDT by Johnny Gage
October 2008:
From the start, Baby-Kay lived with us nearly full time. Baby-Momma would take her for a day, maybe two, then "give her back", because she couldn't handle a baby and a toddler full time. Around janurary 2009, she wore out her welcome,abused the hospitality/welfare of Paula's sister, husband and 3 kids.
She and was asked to leave, and move out. At that point, baby-Daddy #1 got the legal work started to gain full custody of Baby-Boy. Baby Momma continued to be a mommy to baby-Kay when it was convenient for her.
April 2009:
Baby-Momma finally agreed to sign legal documents for us to have "Temporary Guardianship and Power of Attorney" This allowed us to get her the required Well-Baby checkups and vaccinations that she had been lacking since birth.
May 2009:
During the court hearing for "Baby Boy", the court required Baby-Momma to submit to a hair follicle drug test (IN THE COURT ROOM). She tested positive for Methamphetamine, at the current day, 3 month and 6 month levels. Meaning she had been using Meth before Kay was born.
Baby-momma lost all custodial rights to Baby-boy. She was allowed three 2 hour supervised visits. One of those visits was to be at our home, that way she could see both Baby Boy and Baby Kay at the same time. These visits lasted less than 2 months.
At one visit in early July, she took Baby-Boy for a walk to the park and met "friends" there, and returned 30 minutes late. Baby-Daddy #1, not surprisingly was very upset, and promptly had his lawyer revoke this visit. The other 2 visits were to be at a approved day-care facility. She has made only a handful of attempts to see her son at the "safety center"
July 2009:
During all this time, we continued to care for baby Kay as our own. Fully loved, fully cared for, willingly at our expense. Baby-Momma has made no attempts to offer us money for formula, clothing or diapers, etc. At this time, we spent a full morning at the Hennepin County Family Services Center, to enroll Baby-Kaye for Medical and WIC benefits.
Baby-Momma continued to ome around once in a while when it was convenient for her, or when we agreed to "drop off and pick up" Baby-Kay at her demand. In one 2 week stretch of this month, we had 2 emotional blowouts with her. The Police were called one night, and had to mediate the problem. At this time, baby-Momma can "legally" take Baby-Kay whenever she wants, for as long as she wants. Hennepin Child Protection REFUSED to get involved, after we called them to try and keep Baby-Kay safe. Baby-Momma is still homeless, jobless, carless, License-less and still using Meth.
Even with that, Hennepin CPS says there's still no immediate danger for Baby-Kay.
August 2009:
After the extreme stress, and police calls, of the previous month, we finally decided that the best and safest option for Baby-Kay was to seek emergency legal custody. We have been unable to find any social service organization willing to take us "pro-bono". We did find an organization called Hilary's House (www.HilarysHouse.Org). They do "sliding scale" legal services for low income, and those who cannot afford a "full price ($500/hr)" lawyer.
But the cost is still an issue. The lawyer has been great so far she is able to charge us just $100/Hr and is very conservative in her time billing.
Near the end of August, Baby-momma confided in us that she was now again pregnant, third child, by a third man. She kept telling us she was going to have an abortion, but after that day, she showed us an ultrasound of the baby, at that time, about 10 weeks along.
The "12 week" deadline was on 9/3.
September 2009:
On 9/1 the lawyer submitted the paperwork before the judge. He signed the petition for custody and an "EX Parte Motion". This allowed the custody to be transferred to us immediately upon service of the Court Papers. Baby-Momma was served on Friday afternoon.
On 9/8 we all went before the Judge. During the meeting, Baby-Momma continued to "embellish" her life, stating she was renting a house, had a job, and was making money..
NOT NOT NOT.
She got more and more emotional and angry in front of the judge, and eventually walked out of the judge's chambers. The judge affirmed our petition for immediate full legal/physical custody.
He granted Baby-Momma only three 2 hour supervised visits at our home. He made it clear that we should no longer provide transportation for her to/from any location, it is now entirely on her to make the visits happen. While in court, it also appeared that she had not followed through with her "plan" to have abortion, and now is beyond the 12 week deadline.
(No abortion clinics in Minnesota will perform a procedure after 12 weeks)
*** Is anyone now asking: "How can I help?" ***
Even with the discounted level of legal fees, its going to be costly to see this through to the end.
The inital retainer was $400. The "filing fee" for the petition wasis also $405.
The lawyers rate is $100 hour.
We are asking people to please pray for us, and if God leads you to help us out, please donate.
It doesn't matter how big or small, be it $0.50, $1 or $10, or $1000 dollars. Every penny will be put aside and ONLY used to pay the legal fees to help Baby-Kay.
I forgot to mention, the estimated cost of the legal service will be in the range of $3000 - $5000. If at the end of all this, the Baby-Kay fund exceeds the cost, any extra money will be donated to charity, Possibly to HilarysHouse.org or another similiar organization to help others who are in the same fight as us.
************* Additional Info added 9/10/2009 ******************
Since the initial posting of this note, we have received a number of donations.
After the intial retainer and petition fees, We have about $600 in the fund, with the Court Hearing time and the most recent "legal work" yet to be billed.
****************************************************************
**** UPDATE: 09/28/09 *****
This week, we have received two notices from the Judge handling our case.
The first one was to notify us of an mandatory "Custody Evaluation". The "fee" for this is $450. If we fail to pay this, we are in default and could lose our fight.
The second notice, is to inform us that based on our income, we are now required to pay $650 for the "Assignment Fee" of the Guardian-Ad-Litem to Baby-Kay.
Other than a short 20 minute visit the evening after the court hearing, Baby-Momma has not contacted us, and has made no attempt to come and visit Baby-Kay.
**********************************
There is no way we could ever be able to re-pay anyone, but you have our deepest and utmost thanks and appreciation of your selfless act of giving.
Be assured that any assistance you may give, whether its prayers or a donation, you will know that you helped keep this beautiful child safe, out of harms way, and be allowed to grow up and reach her fullest potential.
If God leads you to donate to Baby-Kay's fund please send me a FR-Mail and I will send you our address or PayPal information.
Thank you, and may God Bless you for letting us share her story with you!
In our utmost appreciation, Johnny Gage & JG's Wife (David & Paula)
Yes, its been a while since I've posted on FR, but But I still lurk here at least weekly.
Currently I am working 2 jobs, have one child in High School and one now in college, but for almost the last year this story has taken a lot of our family's time.
FR MODERATORS: If this post violates any FR Policy I understand if you remove it, but please send me a note and let me know what I can change, so I can repost it.
Pinging folks I know, and have talked to in the past.
Folks please use your Ping-Lists to ping all your “regulars”
Thank you all, May God Bless you all!!
good luck and may God bless you.
An amazing story. I work in family law and see a lot of this, unfortunately. Is there a picture of the little one?
Baby Kay Photo 1
Baby Kay Photo 2
Baby Kay Photo 3
Baby Kay Photo 4
What an angel. Thank you for letting us see her. Please check your FReepmail.
Pinging a few more “old-timers”
Please ping the MN group for me.
Thanks!
JG (aka Dave)
WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC’S MINNESOTA PING LIST!
126 MEMBERS AND GROWING...!
FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT ON OR OFF THIS LIST!
Thanks for the ping!
Johnny......I’ve pinged two of the GREATEST groups of prayer warriors out there...
May God bless you all, may He supply you with ALL of your needs...
I join in earnest prayer for Baby-Kay!
Prayers up for Baby-Kay and everyone involved with her care and well being.
Thanks for sending out the pings and all the prayers
Prayers lifted....
Thanks BG, for posting the Pictures of our Baby-Kay
I SHOULD have put them in with my pings......
She is an absolute ANGEL!!!
BTTT
I can see what a gift from God she is to you...
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