Saving Steffan
Donation protected
For those of you who know him, Steffan is an amazing individual. He's smart, incredibly witty, and has a bigger heart than most people can ever hope to have. But for years Steffan has secretly been struggling with severe alcoholism and depression. On top of the hopelessness he felt for years, the tragic passing of his brother, Nate, left a hole in Steffan's heart that he hasn't been able to mend. Like so many do, he turned to alcohol as a means to cope. Sadly as his depression deepened and his tolerance grew, both diseases lead to loss of jobs, distancing of family, and broken relationships.
Since May of this year Steffan has taken a turn for the worst. So far he's been hospitalized five times; the first for a seizure from withdrawal, and four others for suicidal intentions under near lethal levels of alcohol consumption. In an attempt to get better he has been through detox and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) three times in the last two months, to no avail. The programs temporarily get him back on his feet, but as anyone who has dealt with dual diagnosis knows cleansing from alcohol alone cannot fix his deep rooted feelings of sadness.
In a final cry for help, Steffan recently made the choice to open up about his diseases to his loved ones. Seeing how IOP and once a week therapy sessions weren't enough, we have decided the next step is a 90+ day inpatient rehabilitation program. At this point, sending him to a safe place that will provide him with the means to understand his addiction and address his mental issues is the only way to save his life.
After much consideration Steffan and I have settled on Bridges of Hope . They are a fantastic dual-diagnosis center that will provide him with transportation from Chicago, intensive one-on-one therapy sessions, and a holistic approach to alcohol treatment. Thankfully Bridges is covered by his insurance, but in order to meet his deductible we need to raise $5,000. The other $3,000 will ensure a roof over his fur-babies heads, and a home to come back to at the end of his treatment.
Right now Steffan feels like it's impossible to raise this amount of money. With being in and out of hospitals consistently for months he hasn't had a steady source of income, and his faith that he will ever get to a place that will help is quickly dwindling. As his partner, his confidant, and his friend I am here to prove to him that it is possible. A few thousand dollars is a small price to pay to save a life. Any donation, no matter how small, will not only pave the way to his recovery, but also prove to him that people do care. That he's not alone, and everybody deserves to live a life of happiness.
Any donation $50 or more will get you a Galaxies of Hope painting (as seen in most recent sample below), if you would like one. It's not much, but it's the best incentive I can offer. It may take a little bit, but I'll commission any object of your choosing.
If you've known anyone who's life has been shadowed by depression, who has been suicidal, or whose only comfort came in the form of a bottle, I implore you to reach out. Make a difference in someone's life.
"Helping one person may not change the world, but it could change the world for one person"
Since May of this year Steffan has taken a turn for the worst. So far he's been hospitalized five times; the first for a seizure from withdrawal, and four others for suicidal intentions under near lethal levels of alcohol consumption. In an attempt to get better he has been through detox and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) three times in the last two months, to no avail. The programs temporarily get him back on his feet, but as anyone who has dealt with dual diagnosis knows cleansing from alcohol alone cannot fix his deep rooted feelings of sadness.
In a final cry for help, Steffan recently made the choice to open up about his diseases to his loved ones. Seeing how IOP and once a week therapy sessions weren't enough, we have decided the next step is a 90+ day inpatient rehabilitation program. At this point, sending him to a safe place that will provide him with the means to understand his addiction and address his mental issues is the only way to save his life.
After much consideration Steffan and I have settled on Bridges of Hope . They are a fantastic dual-diagnosis center that will provide him with transportation from Chicago, intensive one-on-one therapy sessions, and a holistic approach to alcohol treatment. Thankfully Bridges is covered by his insurance, but in order to meet his deductible we need to raise $5,000. The other $3,000 will ensure a roof over his fur-babies heads, and a home to come back to at the end of his treatment.
Right now Steffan feels like it's impossible to raise this amount of money. With being in and out of hospitals consistently for months he hasn't had a steady source of income, and his faith that he will ever get to a place that will help is quickly dwindling. As his partner, his confidant, and his friend I am here to prove to him that it is possible. A few thousand dollars is a small price to pay to save a life. Any donation, no matter how small, will not only pave the way to his recovery, but also prove to him that people do care. That he's not alone, and everybody deserves to live a life of happiness.
Any donation $50 or more will get you a Galaxies of Hope painting (as seen in most recent sample below), if you would like one. It's not much, but it's the best incentive I can offer. It may take a little bit, but I'll commission any object of your choosing.
If you've known anyone who's life has been shadowed by depression, who has been suicidal, or whose only comfort came in the form of a bottle, I implore you to reach out. Make a difference in someone's life.
"Helping one person may not change the world, but it could change the world for one person"
Organizer
Heather Marie Goers
Organizer
Chicago, IL