Life in South Africa means challenges every day. Work is scarce, and wages are low. "Load shedding" means hours each day when electricity is simply not available.

Kezia is a co-worker of mine. Despite the fact she lives in South Africa, I consider her a great friend. My bright, sweet friend has been such a help to me, and now she needs help.

For Kezia, it is more than just the ordinary struggles. Just as she had found a job she enjoyed, earning money for her family (herself, hubby, and 7 children), and things were looking up, the crippling effects of mental illness took hold and brought her, and her whole family to their knees. In her words:

This is the hardest thing I've ever had to write.

I have been battling mental illness for many years without medical insurance, using what resources are available to us through our limited government healthcare. I have always been grateful for free healthcare, but I'm afraid I need extreme specialized care.

I have just experienced my 3rd nervous breakdown in 11 years and am at the lowest I've ever been.

This is taking over my life, I can't focus, think, work, do household chores or effectively look after my children. I can't function.

All I want is to get the help I need, so I can be the loving wife and mother that is my true self.

I feel so empty inside, it's like I have nothing left. Please help me find myself again! I want to be the energetic, fun, loving, compassionate person I once was.

This is the breakdown of her expenses:

Private treatment center $3500 - $5500

Travel expenses $100 - $150 per trip to the center.

Loss of income $900 per month

Current medication $50 per month

Psychology/Psychiatry appointments $50 - $200 per appointment

A message from her husband:

It is so painful to see Kez going through this depression and anxiety.

I did not understand how paralyzing it could be.

Kez would try and explain it but it is very difficult to describe this to someone that is not going through or dealt with this before.

For me I feel helpless seeing my wife go through this and not understanding or knowing what to do. I would withdraw from her because I had no idea what might make her anxious or sad, and we got to a point that we didn't talk about anything other than our children. I love her with all that I am and I just don't know how to help her. She has been to see doctors and hospitals within the government system before, but the wait is currently several months, and she cannot endure that long without help. She needs treatment in a private facility, in another town away from me and our children. We are praying for HELP. SHE NEEDS someone or someplace that can help her and our family URGENTLY. We need our mommy and wife better. And home with us.

Thank you

If you can help, please know that your gift will be appreciated and celebrated by a lovely family, struggling without their mother, their rock. We are praying for the generosity of strangers to lift her up, and help fund the treatment she needs to return her to her bright, bubbly self.

Laura