Help Jenelle Recover & Rebuild After a Harrowing Addiction
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$3,911 raised of
27 donations
Dear friends and family,
If for some reason we haven’t met yet, I’m Gianna (Geo) Jenelle’s big sister. And I’ve created this GoFundMe for her.
After years of feeling trapped, isolated, ashamed, and lost, Jenelle is ready and able to heal and come home. Please help us support her bravery and commitment by creating a soft landing for her.
Over the past 6 years, Jenelle has been without a permanent home, navigating life on the streets of New York. It has been a brutal reality our mom has witnessed, where Jenelle was frequently robbed and assaulted trying to survive.
But after 15 years of Opioid Use Disorder and over 6 years of living in these conditions, keeping her apart from family and friends as well as her dreams and goals, she has survived and needs our support.
Thankfully, most of us will never have to know the depths of a debilitating addiction and how much it breaks you down. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort in the medical community to change the long-held beliefs we’ve held about Opioid Use Disorder as a society. As discussed by Cheetham et al. (2022) “Illicit drug use disorders are the most stigmatised health conditions worldwide” and that “stigma discourages people with substance use disorders from seeking care” (Adams & Volkow, 2020; Cheetham et al., 2022).
We now know that it’s not simply about willpower and it’s not a moral failing; it’s a “chronic and complex neurobiological disease associated with frequent relapse” (Kakko et al., 2019). This is why it’s so important we come together as people who love her to support her and show that no matter what has happened or how much time has passed, we love her unconditionally and will rally around her. Because we know that a strong family and social support system can change recovery outcomes for the better (Ventura & Bagley, 2017).
I believe in my core that she chose this incredibly difficult chapter for herself on a soul-level for a reason. She’s had the courage to place herself in the depths of human experience to see and feel things none of us would dare to. From this, she's gleaned a wealth of wisdom that she will be able to share with all of us and maybe the world. She’s always been a talented writer and storyteller, and I’ve felt in my heart that when she’s able to close this chapter and get healthy, there will be an outpouring of insight and magic we will all benefit from.
However, we have a brief window to get this right. We need to rally around her and provide irrevocable support for her and show her that no matter what she’s done or what she’s faced, we as a community will show up for her and honor the power it takes to choose a different path, no matter how scary it may seem.
HERE IS THE PLAN:
She has applied to two live-in treatment facilities in New York, and we are waiting to hear back. If she doesn’t get in, we are working on looking at alternatives in Portland. When we can, our sister Natalie and I will fly to New York and fly with her back to Portland to continue treatment and support her in rebuilding her life surrounded by her loved ones.
THIS IS WHAT WE’RE FUNDRAISING FOR:
- Clothes and Personal Items ($350): As a result of repeated thefts and housing instability, she doesn’t have anything except the clothes on her back. So we’d like to help her with a wardrobe and some personal belongings like journals, shoes, hair care items, etc.
- Travel ($2,800): I will be traveling to and from the UK, and Natalie will be traveling from Portland. Any support to help us cover flights would be greatly appreciated. UK to NYC: $700, NYC to PDX: $250 x2, PDX to NYC w. return: $480, PDX to UK: $640, Accommodation in NYC (3 nights): $480
- Medical Fees and Support ($500 approx): State ID and travel identification fees (she doesn’t currently have ID, so we’ll need to apply for a special program so she can travel). Prescription copays for any bridge medication she’ll need before being accepted for the Oregon Health Plan.
- Sober Living and Housing ($1,200): When she’s transitioning from live-in treatment, she’ll need support with first month's rent and deposit for Portland sober living or intake fees.
- Communication ($150): Prepaid phone line and basic smartphone so she can stay connected to all of us.
- All additional funds raised will go to support Jenelle’s continued rebuilding as she transitions from treatment to living independently and healthfully.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT:
This can be in addition to a GoFundMe donation or instead of.
- Writing Letters: A big part of Jenelle’s journey has been disconnection from all of us. She’s shared deep regret and shame about her time and choices, and I’ve assured her she will not be met with judgment, that everyone just loves and misses her. On our recent video call, she told me that loneliness has been the biggest driver of her addiction, and she said, “I wasn’t supposed to be gone so long.” So the more we can flood her with letters of love, acceptance, funny anecdotes, and pictures, the better. And we’ll make sure she gets them before she starts treatment in Portland.
If you’d like to send a letter or a few, you can address them to:
Jenelle Mcleod c/o Desiree Batiste
33944 SE Wildcat Mountain Drive
Eagle Creek, Oregon, 97022
- Donate Lightly Used Personal Items and Clothing Directly: She’s a size 4/6, small/medium, size 8 shoe. If there’s anything you’d like to donate, just email me at giagoodrich{at}gmail{dot}com and we can set up a drop-off!
- Gift Cards: If you’d be more comfortable purchasing a gift card, or if you have a spare one from last Christmas hanging around that you’d want to share, that would be great. I know we hate fascist overlords, but for the sake of simplicity, Amazon, Target, Dick, etc. But if you want to get one specifically for her interests, I know she’d love that. She’s a voracious reader and loves to write.
- Send Strong Positive Energy and Intentions: One powerful and free way to support is to send good energy and intentions for Jenelle’s healing. You can do it in whatever way works for you, whether that’s prayer, spell work, or using your imagination to picture her healthy, vibrant, and full of confidence. By imagining a future for her where we get to see her glowing at future events and sharing her gifts with the world, you are actively helping in creating that reality.
Thank you for being an amazing person! Your help and generosity in any way you feel compelled to support and contribute is appreciated beyond measure. This is a dream I’ve held close to my heart for such a long time, and we’re so grateful for your support in helping us create a soft landing for one of the most caring, loving, funny, insightful, and powerful people I’ve ever had the joy of knowing.
Thank you so much!
Gianna
Giagoodrich{at}gmail{dot}com
References For My Fellow Nerds:
Adams, J. M., & Volkow, N. D. (2020). Ethical imperatives to overcome stigma against people with substance use disorders. AMA Journal of Ethics, 22(8), E702–E708. https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2020.702
Cheetham, A., Picco, L., Barnett, A., Lubman, D. I., & Nielsen, S. (2022). The impact of stigma on people with opioid use disorder, opioid treatment, and policy. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 13, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S304566
Kakko, J., Alho, H., Baldacchino, A., Molina, R., Nava, F. A., & Shaya, G. (2019). Craving in opioid use disorder: From neurobiology to clinical practice. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 592. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00592
Ventura, A. S., & Bagley, S. M. (2017). To improve substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery: Engage the family. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 11(5), 339–341. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000331
Organiser and beneficiary
Desiree Batiste
Beneficiary