Celebration Of Israel's Life

This is my brother’s story, He is 24 years old and has been dealing with depression since his early teens. We all would talk to him thinking its normal. Recently, on May 19th my mom informed me that he needed me. After talking with him for about a week I realized the depression is hitting him hard we were trying to get him to talk to a psychologist. On May 25th, my brother had a schizophrenic break down. Mom took him to the psychiatric hospital for an evaluation. They were unable to control his breakdown and wouldn’t admit him. Instead they sent him to a mental health office downtown where I met up with him. There was no doctor and was rescheduled to come back. For the next 2 weeks, I would talk or see him every day trying to work with him to go get help. On June 11th, he called me and said the voices are too much and I need to take him somewhere so I took him back to the psychiatric hospital. Right before he went inside I took my phone out and said to him, “let’s take a selfie”. He started to laugh and smile so I quickly took the picture. It’s been a long time that he’s laughed in that way. He then turned and said, “why can’t I always feel like that” and I replied, “I don’t know, but that’s why we are here to help you”. After he went in they said they couldn’t detain him for an evaluation. He would have to stay on a volunteer basis. The next day he felt better and he left. The next couple of days he looked better but we were looking for rehabilitation centers we could put him in. on June 12th he had another break down we went back to the psychiatric hospital and the security guard was being un-cooperative and was convinced not to stay. We then took him to my aunt’s house to pray. After he kept asking to take him back to the psychiatric hospital he was voluntary admitted again. The next morning, he left and we told him we found a rehabilitation center and was content on staying. He then left late that afternoon. I went to talk to him and said I would find a place further away so he couldn’t leave or even a place in Mexico that would detain him because he was still hearing the voices. He agreed and said he trusted me and is he was willing to go for psychiatric help anywhere. On June 14th, we had talked 3 times that morning because I told him I found 4 places and we would talk about it. He then called me at 1103am and asked where I was I told him I was getting breakfast and taking it home, I asked him what was going on he said never mind and we hung up. So, I thought he was being inpatient. I later found out that unbeknown to my cousin he used his phone at 1109am to call 911 and ask for help. He then gave him back his phone and told him he needed to take a walk, 5-10 mins after he left, the police arrived because of the call and was nowhere to be found. Apparently, he left on my brother’s bike and at 1130am 911 got a call that a young man going southbound on the 5 freeway by civic center exit was struck at high velocity while riding his bike on the freeway. He had no identification and was rushed to UCSD trauma center. They had to call Sprint to un lock his phone. It was Friday morning and we didn’t know where he was so we filed a missing person report and took his picture to the station. At 240pm we received the phone call that he was in ICU trauma at UCSD. He had survived the neurological surgery after sustaining massive injuries to his head. He was in a coma for 9 days. He had unrepairable brain damage. He passed on june23rd at 645pm. My brother donated his liver and two kidneys. He was then given a medal of honor for the gift of life. I can tell you now that the three transplants were successful. All I want is for the public to hear not of the tragedy that has happened to my family but for there to be awareness to the reality of schizophrenia. Some of my family new about the voices for 6 months but out of respect and not realizing the severity of his situation did not say anything. I know that there are many more people going through the same situation. Are you the person who hears these voices and think you can handle them? Do you have a family member or a friend going through the same situation and you think it’s a phase or normal? As I found out the hard way things can go wrong fast. Just like flipping a switch. Don’t wait get help, say something. Trust me when I say, “in life you risk a lot of things but a life is not worth risking”. I still have questions. Where else could we have taken him? What else could we have done? Unfortunately, we are a society with so many resources, but I found as far as schizophrenia goes there is a lack of direction and assistance. If his situation can at least help 1 person, then his life still has a purpose. Please help me spread the word so it is not too late for someone else. please share his story, My family and I thank you.