Hi there y'all!
As it takes a village to raise our families, I'm here to tell you a story about true motherhood. 
We have family and we have FRAMILY. The McDonalds are the latter to the Jones fam. We've been this for the last 30 years. Her kids are mine and vice versa. 

I have watched Katie navigate motherhood in the most admirable, calm and sometimes stoic way. Truly enviable. She balances full-time motherhood and her Fitness business. Not really quite sure how she does it all! 

Over the years, we've observed our babes grow and change into extraordinary humans. Sometimes, being extraordinary gets overshadowed by emotional and mental challenges.  
Ella has been struggling with anxiety and depression for several years, and it has gotten to the point where she cannot get out of bed and function day to day.  
She literally cannot get up for school. Sounds insane, right? My first thought with that one was: pick her up and drive her there! #judgemuch?
So far, medication hasn't helped and weekly therapy is not enough. Ella has an incredible therapist who she trusts. Her therapist has been doing all she can to help Ella recognize/identify the trauma/what is making her not able to function and move forward? There hasn't been progress with talk therapy.  She is recommending a higher level of care.

BLUEFIRE Wilderness therapy program (https://bluefirewilderness.com/) is designed to restore young people who struggle with behavioral & emotional challenges. It is an innovative and super comprehensive program based on tried and true traditional wilderness therapy concepts. Bluefire combines clinical expertise with recreation, equine, academic, psychological and medical experts to provide an unmatched approach to treatment to produce lasting and internalized change.

BlueFire wilderness program believes in, and is passionate about, helping their  clients to develop specific and translatable skills. As such, its program is designed to create a high impact in a relatively short period of time.

Katie has done and is doing everything she can to give Ella the life that she knows is possible. However,  she can't manage this alone. It really does take a village!
She has researched many programs and they all come with a hefty price tag. She's looking into grants and loans but that all takes time.
I suggested a GoFundMe which she initially declined but, I'm pretty persuasive.

I'm calling on all y'all (true Texas style!) for support for Ella and the rest of her sw
eet family. Ella is ready to go; she's on board! We'd like to get her there this winter; ASAP! Goal amount: $50,000. Yep. 

I'm fairly certain all of us can relate to what they're going through.
Let's all dig in and become Team Ella!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, 
Karen & #TeamElla

#ittakesavillage
#framily