Help David Live A Productive Life

David has suffered with severe mental illness for 18 years. He was first diagnosed with Schizophrenia when he was 24 years old while attending college at Colorado Tech University in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was working towards his electrical engineering degree when he experienced his first mental breakdown. David was a brilliant student and most notably an autodidact who taught himself quantum and theoretical physics and the Russian language all while completing his formal education in electrical engineering.  At the time that this terrible disease took control of his life, he was working full time and taking a highly demanding class load. Although he struggled through his final years of college, he was eventually able to achieve a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. 

Over the years, the disease has progressed to the point where David has been unable to find work in his chosen field of engineering or hold down a job of any kind. David struggles day to day with Schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety attacks that come and go with varying intensity. David and his family have worked closely with behavioral health specialists to employ a wide range of pharmacological and cognitive behavioral therapy over the years, but none have demonstrated long-term success in controlling his symptoms or reducing his relapses. He has been in and out of state hospitals and treatment facilities during the 18 years he has suffered from this disease and it has come to the point where he no longer can live on his own. 

We have searched for many years for the right combination of therapeutic environment and pharmacological treatment to achieve long-term success against David’s disease. Studies have demonstrated that those afflicted with schizophrenia and who engage in meaningful work experience are more likely to achieve improved medication compliance and have reduced symptoms and relapses. With these environmental and therapeutic characteristics in mind, our search has led us to the Hopewell Therapeutic Farm Community ( www.hopewell.cc) in Mesopotamia, Ohio. Although we are pragmatic in our expectations, we are also optimistic that Hopewell’s innovative and creative approach can help David to achieve significant improvement and purpose in his life.

Hopewell describes the value of their community as, “The primary goal of a therapeutic community is to foster individual change and to eventually help people return to society and live a productive life. This is accomplished through a community of people (at Hopewell - staff and residents) working together to help themselves and each other. Residents learn from one another and learn to rely on each other - a skill that their illness has most likely prevented them from developing.”

Who We Are: We are David’s father, mother, sister, brother and extended family. David has inspired us over the years with his brilliance, compassion, and resolve. We want to see him reclaim his life, find meaningful and rewarding work, and achieve his long term goals of being productive member of the society. Please help us to help David live a rewarding and productive life in spite of this debilitating disease. Thank you and God bless!

How The Money Will Be Used: 100% of the money you donate through GOFUNDME.COM will go directly to pay Hopewell’s daily fee of $275. After the first two months, David should qualify for financial assistance at a reduced daily fee of $175 for the remainder of his six-month stay. Based on feedback from the Admission Director, we estimate the total cost of his six-month stay will come to approximately $38,500. This fee does not cover David’s medication or spending money while he is at Hopewell. Once we meet this financial goal, David’s family and Medicaid will assist him in meeting any additional costs incurred from medicine and living expenses. We believe it will take several months to raise sufficient funding to send David to Hopewell, but once we achieve that goal and get him into the Hopewell Community, we promise to keep everyone apprised of his condition and progression.

Hopewell’s Background:  Hopewell is a therapeutic community located on a 300-acre farm in rural Mesopotamia, Ohio. The community helps adults with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression and other forms of serious mental illness. The community helps residents believe in their own potential, develop the skills to manage their mental illness, and transition from Hopewell to a more independent living situation. Hopewell believes that everyone can experience success, find a life of purpose and feel hope. Hopewell’s highly qualified staff creates an environment of caring and acceptance while providing first-class, licensed mental health services.

Founded by Cleveland native, Clara Rankin, and a dedicated board, Hopewell accepted its first resident in 1996. Hopewell is one of a handful of therapeutic farm communities in the country and the only one of its kind in Ohio. Hopewell is able to serve 40 adults, with housing in four residences. At any given time, Hopewell employs between 30-40 full time and part time clinical, direct care and administrative staff.

Hopewell’s website: http://www.hopewell.cc/

Address:

9637 State Route 534, P.O. Box 193

Mesopotamia OH, 44439  

Phone: 1-440-693-4074

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopewellTC