The Devistation Of Suicide
Donation protected
The Patersdorfer family was struck with the harsh reality of a mental illness in their family.
Meet Mike, the loving father to his children Heidi and Peter, an incredible husband to Melissa, and a great friend to many of us.
In 2014, Mike lost his job after 30 years in his profession, which hit him like a brick. He struggled with finding a job for three years. All the while, the family went further into debt with caring for the everyday needs and two children, one of which is Autistic. Mike was depressed. He was admitted into the hospital for a mental breakdown in 2017, while trying to deal with everything. Meanwhile the bills kept coming in. They decided they would have to sell their family car to help make ends meet.
In September of 2017, things started to look up. He got a new job, and the bills were starting to be paid. In October they were hit with more disturbing news. Their son Peter, who is Autistic started getting sick. He had been getting headaches, and gaining weight quickly. After many weeks of testing and waiting, they found out their son has a tumour on his pituitary gland, which could require radiation or even surgery.
On July 1st, of this year, Mike lost his new job. With the mortgage, bills and his son's illness weighing on him, his depression started in again.
On July 29th, sadly Mike took his life.
On July 29th, the family's lives were forever changed. Melissa and the children returned home from an outing and found notes to each of them, from Mike, claiming his whole life was a failure.
Melissa has always been a stay at home mom in order to take care of her children, especially Peter, who needs 24hr care. They have therapy pigs to help Peter cope with everyday struggles. They have their mortgage, and the bills keep coming. The family is devastated by what happened, especially the kids with the loss of their father.
Our goal with this is to do anything we can to help the Patersdorfer family. To help them move on from this tragedy. Mike had no life insurance, and the only insurance they did have, does not cover suicide. The therapy pigs require ongoing vet checks for hoof trims and such, and to remove the pigs from their son's life at a time like this would remove that support and create more heartbreak for him. With Peter's illness being a constant worry, Melissa's life is extremely difficult. No reason, no answers, their lives have been flipped upside down by something so tragic. Something that could have been prevented and should not have happened.
The money we raise together will go towards helping with their everyday struggles of bills and the mortgage while Melissa tries to find care for her son with the hope of trying to find a job that will support them. It will also help with therapy, which is needed to cope, while dealing with a tragedy like this. Donations of any size are welcomed and sincerely appreciated.
We have all been touched by mental illness and the tragedy of suicide at some point in our lives. No one, especially not a wonderful family like this, should be alone in this fight.
We would also appreciate if you share this page with friends and family to draw light to the issue of suicide and what it leaves in its wake. Everyone's life has value and purpose, even if it may not feel that way. Speak up, speak out, and raise up those that are in need. There is always hope.
We love you Mike, you will be missed dearly!
Meet Mike, the loving father to his children Heidi and Peter, an incredible husband to Melissa, and a great friend to many of us.
In 2014, Mike lost his job after 30 years in his profession, which hit him like a brick. He struggled with finding a job for three years. All the while, the family went further into debt with caring for the everyday needs and two children, one of which is Autistic. Mike was depressed. He was admitted into the hospital for a mental breakdown in 2017, while trying to deal with everything. Meanwhile the bills kept coming in. They decided they would have to sell their family car to help make ends meet.
In September of 2017, things started to look up. He got a new job, and the bills were starting to be paid. In October they were hit with more disturbing news. Their son Peter, who is Autistic started getting sick. He had been getting headaches, and gaining weight quickly. After many weeks of testing and waiting, they found out their son has a tumour on his pituitary gland, which could require radiation or even surgery.
On July 1st, of this year, Mike lost his new job. With the mortgage, bills and his son's illness weighing on him, his depression started in again.
On July 29th, sadly Mike took his life.
On July 29th, the family's lives were forever changed. Melissa and the children returned home from an outing and found notes to each of them, from Mike, claiming his whole life was a failure.
Melissa has always been a stay at home mom in order to take care of her children, especially Peter, who needs 24hr care. They have therapy pigs to help Peter cope with everyday struggles. They have their mortgage, and the bills keep coming. The family is devastated by what happened, especially the kids with the loss of their father.
Our goal with this is to do anything we can to help the Patersdorfer family. To help them move on from this tragedy. Mike had no life insurance, and the only insurance they did have, does not cover suicide. The therapy pigs require ongoing vet checks for hoof trims and such, and to remove the pigs from their son's life at a time like this would remove that support and create more heartbreak for him. With Peter's illness being a constant worry, Melissa's life is extremely difficult. No reason, no answers, their lives have been flipped upside down by something so tragic. Something that could have been prevented and should not have happened.
The money we raise together will go towards helping with their everyday struggles of bills and the mortgage while Melissa tries to find care for her son with the hope of trying to find a job that will support them. It will also help with therapy, which is needed to cope, while dealing with a tragedy like this. Donations of any size are welcomed and sincerely appreciated.
We have all been touched by mental illness and the tragedy of suicide at some point in our lives. No one, especially not a wonderful family like this, should be alone in this fight.
We would also appreciate if you share this page with friends and family to draw light to the issue of suicide and what it leaves in its wake. Everyone's life has value and purpose, even if it may not feel that way. Speak up, speak out, and raise up those that are in need. There is always hope.
We love you Mike, you will be missed dearly!
Organizer and beneficiary
Jasmine Hemsworth
Organizer
Barrie, ON
Melissa Patersdorfer
Beneficiary
