Gabe is 10 (11 in April). He’s smart, funny, creative, caring, and passionate about technology. He loves music, especially Imagine Dragons. He’d watch YouTube all day if I let him. He’d eat hot dogs for every meal if he could He’s pretty fantastic, if I do say so myself. Something else that Gabe experiences on a daily basis is mental illness. 

We began to notice early on that he was different from his peers. He has always been overly sensitive and reactive. He is quick to cry, quick to anger. Our family suffered a tragic loss in 2015, and there have been notable changes since then. As we are approaching a particular difficult time in every adolescent’s life, it seems to have erupted into full-blown psychotic episodes. My sweet, caring baby has shown aggressiveness toward others with suicidal ideation. Something that was not made public was his 10-day inpatient stay at a psychiatric hospital. 

It is because of this hospitalization that I am here now. Our immediate family is me and Gabe. That’s all. We are a one-income home. Any time taken off work for him is unpaid leave for me. Between the lost wages from work and the mounting medical bills, I’m at a point where I feel reaching out to friends and family is justified. The hospital alone will run me nearly $3,000. That does not include physician fees while inpatient, as well as the intensive psychiatric and psychological care that we have to seek now that he has been released.

I realize the holidays are quickly approaching and money is probably quite tight all around. This is not easy to ask for, but I also know that I need help and I won’t get it if I don’t ask. 

Thanks, everyone <3