My dear friend Michael Foster is a bright, empathic, ebullient young man who brings joy to all he meets.  I have had the pleasure of knowing him for the last four years through my work with Cherie Young, his mother.  The two of them currently reside together in Rosarito, Mexico.

Due to a traumatic event early in Michael's life, he has suffered greatly from Major Depressive Disorder that has been relatively resistant to treatment.  Two weeks ago, Michael attempted to take his own life.  

Fortunately for all of us, Michael was able to pull through and found a new vigor for existence.  He felt that almost dying was an eye-opening event for him and realized that he wanted to live a long, happy life full of love.  He aggressively sought new treatment for his ailments with a new doctor and began working the steps that would lead him toward dealing with and overcoming his depression.

Sadly, on Sunday, August 21, 2016 Michael suffered yet another catastrophic event.  His new doctor had not yet gotten his new medications correctly adjusted and he passed out at the wheel of his car around 9 a.m.  He rolled three times, hit a tree, and was ejected through the windshield.  He suffered a broken ankle, multiple cuts and abrasions, orbital, cheek and skull fractures.

The worse was yet to come.  I went down to Mexico as soon as I heard the news that day.  Unfortunately it took several hours of negotiating with and waiting for ambulance companies in Tijuana to become available to transport Michael to the United States.  Without pain medication or further treatment other than stabilization, Michael lay in his hospital room in Tijuana, bleeding from the brain.

We were not able to get him to a U.S. hospital until 9:30 p.m. that night.  We were informed by the doctor that Michael's brain was swelling and he was leaking cerebral fluid from his ear.  He had in summary three skull fractures, bleeding from the brain, a fractured cheekbone, compromised sight in his left eye, several broken ankle bones and toes, and a compression fracture in his lower spine.  He would need several surgeries and many months of rehab to recover.

His medical bills, despite insurance, are mounting. 

Cherie, his mother, despite insurance and being a successful businesswoman, is struggling to pay for all of the expenses that are presenting themselves for the arrangement of Michael's long term care while he regains the ability to walk.

Cherie currently lives in an upstairs condo and will not be able to bring Michael back to their current home as he will be in a wheelchair for quite some time.

She has found a house close by that she can afford going forward which will have room for his needs and accomodate a full time helper for the next 6 months. Her current landlord is willing to let her out of her current contract and give her a glowing reference. 

The home is available and ready for move in now.  If she does not move in by the 1st of Sep, 2016, she will lose the opportunity to rent this particular house.  This is a serious issue because the rental market in Rosarito is extremely tight.  It is a miracle that Cherie has found something that will meet Michaels needs so quickly, and she cannot afford to allow this opportunity to slip away.

Cherie is a strong, independent businesswoman and single mother.   In the four years that I have had the pleasure of knowing her it has become clear to me that while very magnanimous herself, she refuses to ask for handouts.   I am asking for help on her behalf.  Lets get her son the help he needs.

UPDATE:  Michael's doctors mistakenly thought he could handle going home and he suffered a grand Mal seizure, during which he refractored his cheek bone.  He is back in the hospital under seizure watch.  His mother is exhausted and is desperately trying to move back to the United States so that Michael can have better, faster, and safer access to immediate and long term care.  Your thoughts, prayers, and donations all go towards this end.