Hey y'all, we’re creating this fundraiser on behalf of Malia Jackson (Ciera Tavana’s sister). Malia and Ciera, who after years of pouring into their communities, now need our help.
Malia has gone through more in her 25 years than most people in their entire lifetime. At the age of 18, Malia left her family home, enrolled herself into community college, worked hard, and eventually applied to UC Berkeley, where she was accepted and given a full ride. During her time in college, she worked and was financially independent while still keeping a formidable GPA.
Unfortunately, Malia was not able to complete her program at UC Berkeley because about a month after moving into her dorm and got settled into school, she had what is now called by her doctors a manic episode. Delusions, psychosis, wild behavior changes, confusion. This was the first of anything like this in Malia’s life. Upon further testing, we found out she had a brain tumor. Ciera insisted on a 2nd opinion from UCSF where they immediately performed brain surgery to remove the tumor. Then the doctors began to debate between neurology, oncology and psychiatry for a diagnosis, with no solid conclusion as to what caused her “episode”.
Since then she’s had a 2nd brain surgery, and multiple manic episodes that include psychosis and hospitalization. Between the surgeries and episodes Malia continued to attend college full time and work when not in school. Unfortunately, her mother is incapable of offering the kind of support needed, that compounded with the recent death of her father, she didn’t have a support system to lean on, outside of a wonderful group of friends.
This year, after another hospitalization due to mania, Malia decided to withdraw from college and move to Atlanta to live with Ciera. She had another hospitalization this summer and another this month, getting out of just in time for Christmas.
Ciera and friends are working hard to get her the best resources and have managed to find an amazing residential psychiatric center, Skyland Trail. It's one of the best residential facilities for difficult, multilayered cases like Malia's because they work with Emory to look at both her medical and psychiatric conditions to fine time her diagnosis and treatment. It's the only place that will take on a case this complex.
This is where you come in. Currently, Malia’s insurance is out of network for the Residential Program. Her main support system is Ciera, but she already pays all of Malia’s living expenses, and cannot afford the $33,000 per month to put Malia into the program, although she wants nothing but the best for her little sister.
The $17,500 we're raising is for 30 days of residential treatment at Skyland trail. While we did receive 50% financial aid from Skyland Trail’s Board of Directors, we still have to cover the other 50% out of pocket as well as other entrance fees to cover a full medical assessment. We need to raise this amount in the next 45 days since the financial aid to Skyland Trail runs out shortly after.
We don’t want mental health to be the reason Malia can’t live a long, full, independent and happy life. Malia is an incredibly resilient person, who has continued to thrive through more than most people ever endure.
With your help, she will receive the support and care she deserves.
Malia has gone through more in her 25 years than most people in their entire lifetime. At the age of 18, Malia left her family home, enrolled herself into community college, worked hard, and eventually applied to UC Berkeley, where she was accepted and given a full ride. During her time in college, she worked and was financially independent while still keeping a formidable GPA.
Unfortunately, Malia was not able to complete her program at UC Berkeley because about a month after moving into her dorm and got settled into school, she had what is now called by her doctors a manic episode. Delusions, psychosis, wild behavior changes, confusion. This was the first of anything like this in Malia’s life. Upon further testing, we found out she had a brain tumor. Ciera insisted on a 2nd opinion from UCSF where they immediately performed brain surgery to remove the tumor. Then the doctors began to debate between neurology, oncology and psychiatry for a diagnosis, with no solid conclusion as to what caused her “episode”.
Since then she’s had a 2nd brain surgery, and multiple manic episodes that include psychosis and hospitalization. Between the surgeries and episodes Malia continued to attend college full time and work when not in school. Unfortunately, her mother is incapable of offering the kind of support needed, that compounded with the recent death of her father, she didn’t have a support system to lean on, outside of a wonderful group of friends.
This year, after another hospitalization due to mania, Malia decided to withdraw from college and move to Atlanta to live with Ciera. She had another hospitalization this summer and another this month, getting out of just in time for Christmas.
Ciera and friends are working hard to get her the best resources and have managed to find an amazing residential psychiatric center, Skyland Trail. It's one of the best residential facilities for difficult, multilayered cases like Malia's because they work with Emory to look at both her medical and psychiatric conditions to fine time her diagnosis and treatment. It's the only place that will take on a case this complex.
This is where you come in. Currently, Malia’s insurance is out of network for the Residential Program. Her main support system is Ciera, but she already pays all of Malia’s living expenses, and cannot afford the $33,000 per month to put Malia into the program, although she wants nothing but the best for her little sister.
The $17,500 we're raising is for 30 days of residential treatment at Skyland trail. While we did receive 50% financial aid from Skyland Trail’s Board of Directors, we still have to cover the other 50% out of pocket as well as other entrance fees to cover a full medical assessment. We need to raise this amount in the next 45 days since the financial aid to Skyland Trail runs out shortly after.
We don’t want mental health to be the reason Malia can’t live a long, full, independent and happy life. Malia is an incredibly resilient person, who has continued to thrive through more than most people ever endure.
With your help, she will receive the support and care she deserves.