- K
- A
Scarlet, who goes by Kat, is a brilliant, funny, creative, kind eleven-year-old who is struggling with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. She’s missed out on a lot of school and life over the past couple of years because of her challenges.
Late last summer, worsening depression drove her to consider suicide and begin to self harm. By the end of September, Kat was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric center for a week. Things have been up and down since, and although the whole family has begun a supportive and in-depth therapy program, Kat was back in the ER twice in January for suicidal feelings. The second time she also self harmed.
My name is Ryan, and Kat is my girlfriend Jessica's daughter. On their behalf, I am reaching out for help. Like Kat, Jessica is a fighter — she has to be, because she has severe health issues of her own. Despite that, she has left no stone unturned in seeking help for Kat. This is a demanding and exhausting role for Jessica, both physically and financially.
We first created this GoFundMe campaign in October, when it was clear that there would be expenses above and beyond what Jessica could handle on a limited fixed income. Our community really reached out and helped her get through the first few months of this long term crisis. I’ve seen tears of gratitude more than once.
However, the expenses do continue to mount up. Copays for ER visits, medical procedures, and therapy, travel costs to drive to Davis (a 40-mile round trip) three times a week, additional medications, extra academic support for Kat... these are just the tip of the iceberg. Today, Jessica had to replace two tires, and a brake job is in the near future. One or two of these kinds of expenses are sometimes manageable. But with the unpredictable nature of both mental illness and Kat’s and Jessica’s physical challenges, an added expense can make or break the month’s grocery budget, or cause enough stress to trigger painful health issues to arise or worsen.
So please, if you can, anything and everything helps. The initial goal for this campaign has been set at $5,000, and we are 29% of the way there.
If you aren't able to donate, please give this a signal boost. Jessica feels strongly that it’s important to be open and honest about mental health, and is also open about the physical challenges she and Kat face. As always, our deepest gratitude.
Late last summer, worsening depression drove her to consider suicide and begin to self harm. By the end of September, Kat was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric center for a week. Things have been up and down since, and although the whole family has begun a supportive and in-depth therapy program, Kat was back in the ER twice in January for suicidal feelings. The second time she also self harmed.
My name is Ryan, and Kat is my girlfriend Jessica's daughter. On their behalf, I am reaching out for help. Like Kat, Jessica is a fighter — she has to be, because she has severe health issues of her own. Despite that, she has left no stone unturned in seeking help for Kat. This is a demanding and exhausting role for Jessica, both physically and financially.
We first created this GoFundMe campaign in October, when it was clear that there would be expenses above and beyond what Jessica could handle on a limited fixed income. Our community really reached out and helped her get through the first few months of this long term crisis. I’ve seen tears of gratitude more than once.
However, the expenses do continue to mount up. Copays for ER visits, medical procedures, and therapy, travel costs to drive to Davis (a 40-mile round trip) three times a week, additional medications, extra academic support for Kat... these are just the tip of the iceberg. Today, Jessica had to replace two tires, and a brake job is in the near future. One or two of these kinds of expenses are sometimes manageable. But with the unpredictable nature of both mental illness and Kat’s and Jessica’s physical challenges, an added expense can make or break the month’s grocery budget, or cause enough stress to trigger painful health issues to arise or worsen.
So please, if you can, anything and everything helps. The initial goal for this campaign has been set at $5,000, and we are 29% of the way there.
If you aren't able to donate, please give this a signal boost. Jessica feels strongly that it’s important to be open and honest about mental health, and is also open about the physical challenges she and Kat face. As always, our deepest gratitude.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jessica Hartwell
Beneficiary