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Meet Eli. This picture was taken a few years ago, when his life was normal. At the age of seven, his life changed when he was victimized by someone he should have been safe with. Two years later, he was again hurt by someone else.
He never told anyone what happened to him. He was ashamed and embarrassed. He felt like it was his fault. He felt like people would judge him and be angry with him for whatever reason it is that causes a 7 year old to take on the weight of the world. And so he remained a silent victim.
His grades fell. His behaviors deteriorated, both at school and at home. The pain and hurt inside him ate away at him, making him angry, bitter, and most of all afraid. If people who were supposed to love him could hurt him or if he could be hurt in front of his own house, then he could be hurt by anyone, anywhere. The fear and trauma made him lash out. He had to be the one with the power. He couldn’t be weak because if he was in control, maybe he wouldn’t be hurt again.
It didn’t matter how big or intimidating or powerful he became on the outside, though. He was hurt again. Five years later he was victimized by a teacher and his behaviors deteriorated further.
Finally, a school counselor asked the right questions and, in one of the bravest moments of Eli’s life, he said something, finally ending the silence. It did not, unfortunately, end the pain, fear, or depression. A few months later, after even more mood issues and behavior problems, he tried to end things with a knife, cutting himself over 50 times in one night and then experiencing what can only be described as a psychotic episode.
Eli was admitted to an acute inpatient mental health facility and, a week later, transferred to the hospital’s residential treatment program, where he has been ever since. The program has been able to treat his anxiety, depression, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (similar to bipolar but with general irritability instead of highs between extreme lows). They have not, however, been able to manage the trauma component. He is with children as young as 6. You can’t talk to 6 year olds about the dark, traumatic things that you lived through that no child should ever have to face, and without talking about your problems, you cannot work through them.
Because Eli cannot get the help he needs where he is, we had to find somewhere that COULD help him.
We found a therapeutic group home that specializes in helping children like our son work through trauma and learn to manage their behaviors. The program typically lasts 6-10 months and has an 85% success rate for graduates; however, our insurance does not cover any portion of the program and it is extremely expensive, costing $253/day. We have worked hard to come up with as much as four months of treatment - enough to make a difference in his life, but probably not enough for him to be truly successful.
Any donations - no matter how small - that would help put a dent in this massive financial obligation would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for helping us give our son the chance to become a happy, healthy, well adjusted boy.
He never told anyone what happened to him. He was ashamed and embarrassed. He felt like it was his fault. He felt like people would judge him and be angry with him for whatever reason it is that causes a 7 year old to take on the weight of the world. And so he remained a silent victim.
His grades fell. His behaviors deteriorated, both at school and at home. The pain and hurt inside him ate away at him, making him angry, bitter, and most of all afraid. If people who were supposed to love him could hurt him or if he could be hurt in front of his own house, then he could be hurt by anyone, anywhere. The fear and trauma made him lash out. He had to be the one with the power. He couldn’t be weak because if he was in control, maybe he wouldn’t be hurt again.
It didn’t matter how big or intimidating or powerful he became on the outside, though. He was hurt again. Five years later he was victimized by a teacher and his behaviors deteriorated further.
Finally, a school counselor asked the right questions and, in one of the bravest moments of Eli’s life, he said something, finally ending the silence. It did not, unfortunately, end the pain, fear, or depression. A few months later, after even more mood issues and behavior problems, he tried to end things with a knife, cutting himself over 50 times in one night and then experiencing what can only be described as a psychotic episode.
Eli was admitted to an acute inpatient mental health facility and, a week later, transferred to the hospital’s residential treatment program, where he has been ever since. The program has been able to treat his anxiety, depression, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (similar to bipolar but with general irritability instead of highs between extreme lows). They have not, however, been able to manage the trauma component. He is with children as young as 6. You can’t talk to 6 year olds about the dark, traumatic things that you lived through that no child should ever have to face, and without talking about your problems, you cannot work through them.
Because Eli cannot get the help he needs where he is, we had to find somewhere that COULD help him.
We found a therapeutic group home that specializes in helping children like our son work through trauma and learn to manage their behaviors. The program typically lasts 6-10 months and has an 85% success rate for graduates; however, our insurance does not cover any portion of the program and it is extremely expensive, costing $253/day. We have worked hard to come up with as much as four months of treatment - enough to make a difference in his life, but probably not enough for him to be truly successful.
Any donations - no matter how small - that would help put a dent in this massive financial obligation would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for helping us give our son the chance to become a happy, healthy, well adjusted boy.