Being part of this advocacy is not just something I’ve chosen—it’s something that has chosen me, in the most profound and personal way.
Carly Madison is like a daughter to me. I love her as deeply and fiercely as I do my own three children. From the moment I met her, and as I walked alongside Carly's family through this painful, complicated journey, my heart expanded in ways I didn’t know were possible—especially at this stage of life.
This isn’t simply about lending support from the sidelines. It’s about standing in unwavering love, in quiet faith, and in the sacred stillness of the moments in between—the ones that often matter most.
This space—this advocacy—is built on that kind of love. It's a place for healing, for truth-telling, and for coming together not only on Carly’s behalf, but on behalf of every child caught in a system that too often forgets their humanity. Carly’s story matters. Her pain matters. Her future matters.
And justice for her? It’s worth every step, every voice, every prayer.
We are fighting for something bigger than a single case. We’re fighting for a better way forward—for Carly, yes, but also for every child who has been punished, shamed, or abandoned during the most painful, vulnerable moment of their life. A child is not their worst mistake. They are worthy of restoration, of understanding, of another chance.
To those reading this: I hope you’ll join us. Whether through prayer, advocacy, conversation, or simply opening your heart to this story, you can be part of this movement. You can be part of creating a justice system that sees children as more than a case number.
There is a better way, America. And it begins with love.
Jodi Bush Stocker
