Kadin's Pride and Joy

Providing safety and care for a loved one with lifetime mental health issues is a world unlike any other. Hospitalization, therapy and medication can establish a “stable norm” but leave gaps in the everyday, where those living with illness are not actively in crisis. Some patients are fortunate enough to have friends and family with the strength and depth and dexterity to fill those gaps. Few are as fortunate as my friend Kadin. Though he lives at home with schizoaffective disorder, his mother Mikaela and her fiancé Cornelius work as his full-time counselors, adult caregivers, friends and defenders in addition to living their own incredibly full and creative lives.

Kadin is a valued member of their family. He’s medication complaint, helps with chores, participates in his behavioral and mental health therapy, has a great sense of humor and is deeply loved. Home is the only place he can live to receive the everyday support he needs to maintain stable health. 

But he is now 25 and like any adult increasingly wants and needs his own space. In fact, the lack of space has started to negatively affect Kadin’s health and is putting increasing strain on the support he receives from other family members. It is a critical time for him to find a little independence, and Mikaela wants to build a small structure, detached from their home where he can have some space- away from triggers when he’s not feeling well, while retaining the safety and support of family and home.

Unfortunately, the failing health and recent passing of another family member have required several trips back and forth to Germany for Cornelius. Currently, he and Mikaela are not able to afford the expense of the modest structure that Kadin so desperately needs. While they had hoped that this project could wait, they have realized that it cannot. Knowing that even small building projects take time, it is their goal to start right away and help Kadin in to a healthier space as soon as possible.

Mikaela and Cornelius are motivated, creative people and plan on using recycled materials whenever possible. They anticipate the building permit, soundproofing materials, electricity and the disposal of a small, uninhabitable playhouse currently at the building site will be their biggest expenses.

Your donations will go directly to building this structure and will be accompanied by the love, labor and gifts of close friends. Kadin sometimes calls things he finds endearing “Kadin’s Pride and Joy.” Thank you for giving him the chance to extend that label to his new, healthy space.

Any donations of landfill/waste management services, materials and site preparation would help the funds spread even further.

Because of the common correlation with homelessness and mental illness, any remaining proceeds will be donated to local homeless outreach programs.

 

Thank you, and please share our GoFundMe with friends.