Help Misha & Anna fight a legal battle

On September 10th one of my closest friends John tried to overdose. John has been struggling with schizophrenia, severe depression, and recently drug addiction. His parents, who are Russian immigrants, quickly put him in a locked psychiatric ward after his most recent suicide attempt. John started stealing his father’s Tramadol (pain killers) to self medicate in February of 2020. He has been trying to fight his mental health battle and addiction by leaning on the sacraments of the Orthodox Church, reading Scriptures and the lives of the Saints, and making lifestyle changes. This has been helpful but he still requires psychological care that is very expensive. 

Before his most recent suicide attempt Misha (John’s father) had tried to help wean his son off of the pain killers he had been abusing. Misha works in the healthcare industry and was desperately trying to help his son without admitting him to a rehab facility. If he had admitted John into a long term facility then his community and very condemnatory family would know and draw lots of unwanted attention. After intake to the ward and questioning by therapists and psychiatrists, John’s father was arrested. Since John is a minor the staff at the psychiatric ward notified local law enforcement that his 'father was giving him prescription drugs'. They had made it seem that Misha was a careless abusive Dad who wanted to dope up his son. When in reality he was trying to help the best way he knew how. Misha was arrested on September 16th with the charge of ‘distributing drugs to a minor’, he was also fired from his job. He posted $1000 bail and was released from custody. Misha and his wife Anna, are both in their late sixties and struggle with different medical issues. Misha is fearful, they have little money saved and now have to fight an unscrupulous legal battle. Misha and Anna are at risk of losing custody of their seventeen-year-old son. Misha will also lose his social security if he is in jail for more than thirty days. Misha was the sole provider since Anna is out of work and stays home to keep her son John safe. 

I on behalf of Misha, Anna, and John ask that you pray for everyone involved and consider donating. We are setting the goal at $10,000 for rent, legal fees, medical bills, Christian psychological help, and day-to-day expenses for the next 6 months. If you are able to share this GoFundMe, please do so as well. 




(Please note I have opted not to include images of Misha, Anna, and John for their privacy and not to scandalize relatives. Names have also been changed.)