Today, I bring you to the awareness of myself Kendrick L Patrick Jr; a devoted father who once played an active role in his children's lives but is now struggling to regain that right, having become a victim of parental alienation after a life-altering accident. In September 2019, I suffered a crippling motor vehicle accident leaving me with a spinal cord injury. Despite my physical disability, I remain a caring father who longs to be part of his children's lives. However, parental alienation from my children mother Unique Shenay Random and her grandmother Ms Carpenter, societal prejudice against disabled people and black men and a failed legal system, I, as a Black man and a quadriplegic, is being denied access to his children. 

I have exhausted all measures and made numerous attempts to coparent with the mother of my children before and since my physical disability. I pay child support for both my children and they also receive SSI beneficiary benefits from me. I gained my independence in July 2022; where upon I no longer lived with family members and acquired a home of my own with my wife who is also my sole caregiver. In July 2023 I joined the Father Family Support Center and with my wife supporting and attending alongside me we successfully completed the 6 week Family Formation Program, sometimes even attending class via Zoom from the hospital as due to my disability. I informed my children’s mother of this and even invited her to participate when they had activities for the parents and children so they can be apart of the program, she denied any involvement by herself and my children. Afterwards November 14, 2023 I FC Petition for Child Custody/Support with the 21st. Judicial Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Missouri and the Judge John F Newsham presided over our case 23SL-DR05079, I was represented by Jessica Igielnik from FFSC. Our guardian ad Litem was Margaret P (Molly) Murphy bar #50632. After so many months of my children mother being uncooperative and uncommunicative and not agreeing to my proposed parenting plan and/or even the temporary parenting plan drafted by Judge Newsham our case was dismissed w/o cause to both parties August 2024. 

Now after not seeing my son since Jan 2024 and my daughter April 2024, I was attempting to visit my children at their school Bryan Hill Elementary on Oct 29, 2024 with intentions on enjoying the Halloween weekend with them, their mother upon finding out falsified information to the school principal stating I had no parental rights and she had sole custody. After submitting documents of my own from the dismissal of my case, the principal took it upon himself to be on the safe side and to ensure there were not any stipulations preventing me from being involved in my children’s academics and/or visiting them at school contacted the SLPS legal team and they informed him that the mother’s documentation was not factual but just stated she is the custodial parent for child support order and that I was welcomed to participate in my children academic support and visit the mother unenrolled my children unexpectedly with no explanation during which time she filed November 11, 2024 an Order of Protection and Judgment Case No:2422-PN02880 with false allegations of me stalking, abusing, coercion, harassment and unlawful imprisonment. I had only visited the school this once and the visit with my daughter occurred in the presence of the principal Mr. Jason Bressman in his office (my son was absent). She returned them back to school after a week. But I am now once again in the family courts at 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of the city of St. Louis. Nicole Colbert-Botchway Associate Circuit Judge and the appointed guardian ad Litem is Celeste Endicott. My initial petition for child custody was filed in forma pauperis as I am unable to work due to my disability and only receive SSDI. I am 32yo, my daughter is 11 and my son is 7. There have been numerous incidents in which DSS has had to investigate the mother of my children the latest incident #20233350206 which was brought to my attention occurred on Dec. 1,2023. Thereafter the following day Dec 2,2023 the mother came to residence exclaiming she was ready to coparent and my children resided with me briefly until Jan 2024 an altercation occurred with the mother at my home and I had to file an order of protection #24-AEOP-461 she took our son and our daughter chose to remain with my wife and I until she went for a court ordered weekend April 26,2024 with her mother and well was never returned to me even though we had a temporary court appointed parenting plan in place. My daughter has spoken and written in her diary about the neglect and emotional and mental abuse that they endure from their mother. I have tried every way including legally to coparent but the system has disregarded my attempts. 

Tragically, my case is not isolated. According to the American Psychological Association, parental alienation affects roughly 22 million American parents, a phenomenon that is largely detrimental to children's mental and emotional health. Yet, the family court system often falls short in safeguarding the rights of disabled parents and their children.

I , therefore, appeal to the Saint Louis, MO community to come forward and aid me in my endeavor to reunite with my son and daughter. Support this petition, demand due justice for this wronged father, and let's catch the attention of the family court system. My experience should serve as a call to action to reform a system that has failed too many. Let's rally for the rights of all parents, regardless of their physical condition, to have equitable access to their children.

Please sign and share this petition to ensure as a father I can once again play a rightful active role in my children's lives, and to help create vital change in a flawed system.