Ever since my daughter was born 3 years ago, it has been an increasingly uphill battle trying to bring her home. She was in the hospital with my ex-wife and her birth mother for about a week before Chesterfield Department of Social Services in VA came and got her, due to the birth mother having nowhere to go or even a car seat to transport our daughter. The hospital apparently had no knowledge of me as either the father or my ex's husband, so immediately DSS was called. I filed for full custody as soon as the issue arose, and after the court ordered paternity test proved that I was the father (the mother admitted that there was some question regarding paternity), that should have been enough for me to bring her home. However, I have had to deal with setback after setback ever since. Chesterfield County has restricted or revoked visitation over simple things like her weight, bug bites, not turning in budgets or food logs directly on their time, all while she has spent the majority of her time with her foster parents and none of them having any bearing on her health and safety.

     I was in a car accident last December that totaled my means of transportation, and as a result, visitation got revoked because I was unable to transport her to daycare, despite my family and my parent support coach all submitting an alternative plan for her to properly be cared for at our house when at home visitations picked up. Ultimately, the judge elected to terminate my parental rights due to the minor infractions that DSS tried to use against me, as well as using the paternity test against me saying that I "didn't appear to really want her" in my life, even though the paternity test was court ordered and the mother herself said she was unsure of the paternity. Despite all of that, I still stepped up and got a better full time job, a car, baby proofed our home, and did everything a father can to make sure that she's happy and safe. She has grown attached to me and my family, and she is always happy whenever she is with us. This custody hearing has been going on for far too long when paternity has been established and the bond between my daughter and I is secure, and because of that, I refuse to give up the fight.

My mother and I found a lawyer that not only knows what she's talking about with family cases like this, but also sees the injustice done in this case and wants to fight for us. The only issue is that with money tight between my mother and me, it's difficult to meet the $3500 retainer that she charges. So here I am, asking you guys to please donate anything you can. My mother and I intend to put for as much of our own money into this that we can, but with your help, we can feasibly continue this fight to bring home my daughter. She deserves to have a permanent and secure home with her birth family that loves her, and she was robbed of that from day one. Anything to help us meet our $3500 goal will go a long way. Thank you guys for your time, and thank you in advance for helping me fight back!