Suffering Silently with Mental Illness- Help Mike

Hi,

My name is Erica Morrison and seven years ago I worked for an Insurance Agency where I met Mike. He was my co-worker who soon became a good friend. It wasn’t until one day after work we were talking and he was complaining about a simple task taking him a long time, when I learned he  that he has severe OCD.  He was suffering so greatly that work became more difficult, and he became unable to work at all due to the severity of his disease.

 

I learned about the increasing frustration, sadness, and difficulties he was going through trying to get help. He tried a lot of doctors, medications, therapies and at one point he was accepted to UCLA OCD clinic therapy where he completed a month long program, but still found no relief or results. A few years later the Dr. Phil show learned of Mike’s story and found him so severely ill they offered him in-depth brains scans where they identified several areas of trauma in his brain. Most recently UCLA has taken him on as a neurosurgery patient for Deep Brain Stimulation. He is in such a small category of patients nationwide so severe, that this is approved as a humanitarian effort to provide him some relief. He is only the 10th OCD patient that they have performed this Deep Brain Stimulation surgery on. This is his last chance at treatment for this very difficult disease. So, he had to try! After a year of appointments and a very rigorous selection process they have just completed the first stage of the brain surgery on October 12th.

 

The first surgery went well, but he will need to travel to UCLA from San Luis Obispo area weekly for up to 6 months and then every few months. Mike cannot drive currently and needs a lot of help getting through daily life. This is a lot for someone who is on disability and barely leaves his house so it will take a lot of support. Traveling to Los Angeles has incurred several thousands of dollars in medical expenses, and post-op care, hotel, gas, food, prescriptions etc. already and we have a way to go.  Many of his friends and supporters would have given up but they are still fighting. I want to fight with them! I would really like to be able to help and know there are other caring people that will join me.

 

Mike is a great guy that has been suffering for over 40 years with his own thoughts, but is still the type of guy that would offer you help even though he is suffering silently. Mental Illness has such a stigma and I know he would never ask for help himself.  Let’s show him some love and support, and bless him up! You might not know Mike but I hope you understand a little of his story and feel like helping me, help him.

 

If you can donate anything to help with these expenses, we would be beyond grateful. Prayers are also welcome!