The Battle for Vanessa: A Mom's Custody Crusade

Gina Kaysen Fernandes: A two-year-old girl at the center of a contentious custody battle involving the states of California and Ohio will stay with the only mother she has ever known, at least for now. A California Appeals Court has granted Stacey Doss temporary custody of the toddler, Vanessa, whom she has been raising in Orange County, CA and trying to adopt since birth. It's a significant victory for the single parent who is facing a difficult and lengthy court fight.

For the past two years, Stacey has suffered in silence keeping the details of her child's bungled adoption a private matter. Complex issues involving parental rights and adoption laws have put her daughter in a legal tug-of-war involving an army of attorneys and judges. Stacey now finds herself in the public spotlight, fighting to keep custody of Vanessa while waging her own personal crusade to reform what she believes is a broken system. "Vanessa is just the tip of the iceberg," said Stacey who has received letters and emails from hundreds of adoptive parents who've suffered similar circumstances. Stacey believes Vanessa's case can bring change. "Something is really wrong here. I'm going to stick my neck out and do something," she says.

via The Battle for Vanessa: A Mom's Custody Crusade | momlogic.com.