We know of a family with great emotional and financial needs. For safety reasons we will call them, the Smiths.
The Smiths have a beautiful little girl, Marissa, whose biological father and his family are physically and emotionally abusive toward. Here's Marissa's story:
Nine years ago, Marissa and her mother, Sarah, left Marissa's father, Ben, because he was being abusive to both of them. Once, Sarah left Marissa in Ben's care while she was in the bathroom. Sarah came out to find Marissa sitting in her high chair with her pacifier duct-taped to her mouth. Another time, Sarah returned from the bathroom to the living room returning and found feces in Marissa's mouth. Her husband laughingly told her how he had put Marissa's finger in her own feces and then put her finger in her mouth and made her eat it, leaving her on the changing table sitting in it.
Sarah is now remarried to Michael, a wonderful man who loves Marissa as his own. They do, however, find themselves engulfed in a difficult situation. Although Sarah was able to remove herself from the situation, her ex-husband is still entitled to visitation rights with Marissa. Without adequate legal representation, each court visit to restrain those rights has been a "he said, she said," session with Marissa being the only loser. Due to limited financial resources, the Smiths find it impossible to spend the time they needed with their attorneys to prepare a compelling argument for the court. Marissa's father, on the other hand, has had unlimited representation. Although he rarely works, has a long record of criminal history—including DUIs and other misdemeanors, and a series of live-in girlfriends, he has been granted many victories in the courtroom. Even with Marissa's testimony and psychologist recommendations, the lies and deceit of the father continue and the court continues to allow him to destroy this little girl.
Through countless court appearances, the resources of the Smiths have dwindled. Extended family has given as much as they can.
Meanwhile, twice a year the Smiths take Marissa for court-ordered visitations with Ben. During those visits she vanishes from their lives. Going against court-ordered rulings, Ben refuses to make known Marissa whereabouts, taking her out-of-state without advising Sarah, and denying Sarah from having court-ordered phone calls with Marissa. He has even gone as far as refusing to return her when his visitation time is ended. Marissa has no say in what is going on during her visits and oftentimes is forced to be deceptive to keep in touch with her mom and family. The Smiths have no guarantee of her safety while she is on her visits and have no promise of her return. It's like she enters a court-appointed black hole, out of which the Smiths can only hope she returns.
When Marissa returns from her visitations, she is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted and traumatized. She regresses both socially and emotionally. Her psychological testing placed her at an above average I.Q. prior to her visitation, but now she barely maintains an average I.Q. She has developed various health issues due to her stress, and has an extremely hard time at school. In fear, she will only say a fraction of what entirely happens during her visits. To make matters worse, about the time she starts feeling safe and comfortable, with the help of counselors and church activities, it is time to take her back to him.
The Smiths have been praying for a pro-bono attorney, but have had no leads. Meanwhile, their attorney is $275.00 an hour. Michael, despite his health problems, does do "odds and ends" types of jobs while in re-training. Sarah laments, "I never thought it would come to this, having to 'buy' protection and safety for my daughter."
Like in the past, Marissa's last visitation went completely against the court order and she suffered much harm. The Smiths now have enough evidence to protect Marissa from this abusive situation, but they are lacking the monies to pay for attorney fees, psychologists, court fees, and travel expenses to move forward on Marissa's behalf.
Please help the Smiths in their fight to protect their daughter, Marissa. Any financial or professional help you can provide would be greatly appreciated, and by no means wasted!!!
Thank you, in advance. I know the Smiths will be grateful to receive any help that is offered.
If you would like to help Marissa in any way, please email the Smiths at: acallforjustice@yahoo.com.
