From Hope and Caleb Helms:

A week ago Friday, we woke up to find that Promise was gone.

She had taken one of our cars in the middle of the night — despite never having driven on a highway due to developmental challenges. We were in shock. Hours later, with the help of the police, we found her just outside of Houston. She was not alone.

We are incredibly grateful she is alive and safe after a brief stay at an inpatient facility. For her privacy, we will refrain from sharing more details — but this experience showed us that Promise’s safety and healing require immediate, specialized care that goes beyond what we can provide on our own.

Promise has 13 months before she turns 18. In that time, we need to do everything we can to help her heal and grow. Given the complex challenges many adopted children face — especially those shaped by trauma — we've come to the difficult but clear conclusion that the best path forward is enrollment in a therapeutic boarding school. There she can finish her education and receive the intensive, specialized care she needs in a safe and structured environment.

Sadly, the cost of these programs is enormous — ranging from $85,000 to $150,000 per year — and there is little to no financial aid available. Families like ours, who adopt outside of the foster care system, often fall through the cracks of post-adoption support. We’ve already stretched our resources with counseling, academic interventions, and medical care for Promise and our other children.

We are applying for schools trusting that God will provide a way forward for Promise and for our family. We’ve found a school that we believe is the right place for her — now we just need help making it possible.

We are humbly asking for your support. Any gift, no matter how small, will go directly toward giving Promise the chance to heal, thrive, and pursue a future full of hope.

With gratitude,

Hope and Caleb Helms

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A Note From the Organizer:

Hi, I’m Melody — Hope’s sister and Promise’s aunt. My husband Chris and I are organizing this fundraiser to support Promise and her family during this difficult time. We’re incredibly grateful for any help, whether through a donation or simply sharing this with others.