For our son's Mental Health & ADHD

Our son, who is now 13 years old is a wonderful boy with so many talents. He loves to be read, enjoys performing and singing, anything star wars, legos, and swimming. He has been struggling since age 7 with mental health issues. We have gone to several specialists. With things becoming more and more serious we took him to Lurie Childrens Hospital in Chicago being worked up for a mental health diagnosis of Intermittent Explosive Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder. We were setup with an Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Program through Alexian Brothers. Unfortunately insurance only covered an extremely small portion especially with so much of it out-of-network. He completed 10 days of program however only 1 day was covered by insurance. The program was farther away from home than expected and just the cost of gas is in itself was a hit to our budget. He is constantly working on his areas of need and going through treatments with his psychiatrist, psychologist, pediatrician, and is on medications. He also goes in for monthly blood work so that we can be sure the medications are not causing too much long term issues. We are struggling to pay the thus far incurred specialists bills from over the last few years and also have these new bills to pay as well from program, hospitals, doctors, specialists and programs. Our current income is attempting to pay for our regular day-today bills but those are difficult to pay with the many doctor/specialist payment plans setup and time needed off work to make it to the appointments.

In the last couple years, our son has been in partial-hospitalization a few times and also a few for in-patient services for for medication changes.  At this point his diagnosis is Bi-Polar, ADHD, DMDD (Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder), Intermittent Explosive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Mood Disorder NOS.  The combination is difficult but we are learning as he is to manage it.  We are fortunate to live in a district that worked with him and us and is now at an alternative school where he has a smaller classroom size, 2 teachers in the classroom,  counselor & nurse who work with him to help him use the tools and manage.  Mental health is something that is a minute by minute, day by day, constant battle that we face as a family to support and help him in the best ways we can.  Any & all help is greatly appreciated.

Please help us achieve our goal to help pay for our son's mental health bills. The current goal is at $25,000.00 however over the last few years has been over $120k in bills that we try to manage.  We have already been through many appeals with the insurance company and tried other areas to have help with the medical expenses.  We have found some programs to assist us and have learned so many things from so many others of services for him.  We will do whatever it takes for our son to have the treatment, care and support he needs, your financial (any amount) help is so extremely greatly appreciated.

Please pass this on to family, friends, neighbors and anyone who might be able to help us.

Thank you.

Love,
His parents - Joe & Susan