From The Trenches To Treatment: Jentri's Journey

Our 11 year old daughter, Jentri, came to us through adoption from the foster care system at the age of 2 and a half. She endured significant neglect before coming to us and that abuse rewired her brain in a way that makes her fearful and incapable of healthy attachments to others- especially our family. After years of not being believed about her behaviors and mental health, we were finally able to secure an appropriate diagnosis so that we could seek appropriate treatment. Finally, her rage and threats and suicide attempts and physical aggression could be addressed.

What we learned is that her diagnosis of reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is not reversible and finding professional help for her has been next to impossible. We have spent countless hours in offices, on phone calls, and researching how we can help our child. Insurance doesn't help. There isn't state funding (even though she's adopted from the state). And there aren't charities for RAD.

After 8.5 years of parenting Jentri, we have finally found a treatment center that will accept her and specializes in RAD. She has to go to this program. Unfortunately, specialized programs are an astronomical expense. When we asked how we could afford treatment we were told to mortgage our home and sell everything we have.

There has to be a better solution. So, here we are asking for partners in affording treatment for Jentri. She deserves a shot at a healthy adulthood. The rest of our family, all of whom now are being treated for complex PTSD, also deserves a home that is safe, peaceful, and joy-filled. We will soon share a fundraising website that will allow you to donate directly to her tuition. This account, however, can only be used for tuition. This GoFundMe has been setup to help offset the costs of travel we will have to do to go back and forth to see her. The location of the program requires us to fly.

Our first fundraising goal is $70,000, of which includes $8,000 towards travel. This must be met before she can enroll. The total overall goal is $200,000. Please consider partnering with our family. Every system in our country has failed Jentri, through no fault of her own. We are standing strong in our faith knowing that you will stand in agreement that it takes a village to raise a child and we are all a part of her village.

Thank you for choosing to acknowledge this child who had been abandoned from the beginning and now needs us all to invest in her treatment.