My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Ohio


In 2008 I lost custody of my daughter to her father because of drug use. I love my daughter more than anything and I gave my mother temporary custody when I knew it was time for me to go to rehab. When I gave the temporary custody I intended to get her back as soon as I was on my feet. But before I was done in rehab the father stepped in and was awarded custody.

As soon as he was given custody he turned my daughter over to his parents. It is now 2011 and he has never been a full time parent or even a part time parent to my daughter. It took a long time and a lot of begging but eventually over the past 2 years,I have been able to have my daughter as much as I wanted her outside of school nights and school days because I lived 3 and 1/2 hours away. But during the summer months she was with me and all her school breaks.Or like I said any other time I could drive there and back to get her.

The grandparents who care for her and her father all have seen the amazing changes I have made in my life...I now have a son with my fiance and have been clean for 2 years. They were willing to give me my daughter back full time and for good at the end of this school year. As I'm sure you could imagine I was thrilled....finally my family would be whole again!

Because of the economy my fiance, whom financially supports all of us so I can be a stay at home mother, lost his job due to cut backs in the company he was working for. They gave him 6 months pay and a little money to help find a new job. After searching and searching it took all of the 6 months and tons of interviews to find a job...a dream job...good money...great insurance...security...only its very far away from where my daughters living now.

So long story short, I never got anything in writing or went through the courts so when they heard how far away we would be they refuse to give her to me at all. Not even a visit. I am so upset...I don't think there is even a word to describe how bad I feel.

What can I do? Please help!!!!! Please!!!!! I'm now living very far away from her and even though I have offered for them to come visit all expenses paid to check out where she would be living they refuse. I am terrified that I will never see her again? I cant afford to fly round trip to and from court cases and I don't know if being available by phone instead of actually being there on court days is aloud. Any advise would be so appreciated and I am sorry if this was long I couldn't figure out how to make it any shorter. Thanks for your time...

from a scared mom