Shine a light for Ari
Donation protected
Ari was born on May 26, 1994. I was only 16 years old. We both almost died on that day because I suffered from preeclampsia and a serious kidney infection due to my young age. We were hospitalized for two weeks in separate rooms. Fortunately, we made it out of the hospital, we recovered and left that hospital, but sadly, I was still stuck in the relationship with the father of my son. I was terrified of him, he played with my mind, threatening me and controlling every movement I made. I tried to return to my family, but it was when he stole my child, he had me totally controlled, finally one day I plucked up my courage and escaped, my second daughter had just been born. At just 17 years old, I went away, but he found me and once again, stole my two children, hit me and gave me electric shocks with a taser. I got my children back thanks to the help of some neighbors who worked in the police station.
After some years, the father of my children kept his distance, not only from me, but he never even bought milk for his children. Still, I felt calm because although I carried all the financial responsibility alone, I was no longer living in fear.
The years passed and things got better, I managed to get my children to study in good schools in Mexico City, the money I earned was invested in their education. The boys were growing up and everything was going well. My children were already entering high school, it seemed that better and stable times were coming so my partner at that time and I decided to have my third daughter.
At that time, Ari started high school well, he worked hard, he was on the soccer team, he played the guitar, and he was very social, however, one day out of nowhere, he told me that he no longer wanted to continue studying. Prior to this, one morning he had seizures. I took him to the doctor, but they found nothing important at the time. Ari had changed. From being a social boy, all of a sudden, he no longer wanted to leave his bedroom, he began to have repetitive thoughts, delusions of persecution, paranoias, he began to have accidents, out of nowhere, one day he would arrive with a broken finger, a sprained ankle, or a bruised nose.
The situation got worse until my partner and I decided to separate. We agreed that he would take care of our daughter, a 2-year-old baby, and I would take care of Ari.
I thought it was part of adolescence, but time continued to pass and Ari got worse, my other daughter decided to go live alone, since the stress was very strong at home, we were afraid, we hid our knives and scissors. At night, I would lock myself in my room because I was scared. He cut himself to put blood on the plants, he blended garbage, very strange things. Finally the diagnosis arrived, schizophrenia, the news was very strong for me, I grew up with an adoptive family because my mother suffered from schizophrenia... I actually never met her because she got lost.
Almost ten years have passed since it all began, I tried everything from holistic treatments and obviously drugs, various internments when he was in crisis and put his life and mine at risk. Ari only saw the girls for short periods of time because coexistence with their brother was impossible. Finally, last year I found a clinic where they started treating him. Every month a psychiatrist evaluates him and has occupational therapies that keep him calm. Unfortunately, the pandemic arrived, I lost my income and started falling behind with my payments, so I decided to come to Los Angeles to work. I have done everything, I have cleaned houses, and my last job was in a lunch box as a cashier. With the second wave and red light, I have lost my job again, since the restaurants closed. My kids need me, especially Ari. At the moment I am making candles to make money, but it is not enough to support the expenses associated with therapy and treatment.
I am asking for your support to raise the funds we need to pay for Ari's treatment. If I cannot continue to pay for the clinic, my son's treatment will be interrupted, which would eventually worsen his condition. I am asking for your help because there is no financial support for patients with mental illnesses or government institutions with this type of treatment in Mexico. Ari's condition does not allow him to be a functional adult and by being alone he is at risk.
I thank you infinitely for your help and hope that it multiplies for you.
Thank you,
Simone.
After some years, the father of my children kept his distance, not only from me, but he never even bought milk for his children. Still, I felt calm because although I carried all the financial responsibility alone, I was no longer living in fear.
The years passed and things got better, I managed to get my children to study in good schools in Mexico City, the money I earned was invested in their education. The boys were growing up and everything was going well. My children were already entering high school, it seemed that better and stable times were coming so my partner at that time and I decided to have my third daughter.
At that time, Ari started high school well, he worked hard, he was on the soccer team, he played the guitar, and he was very social, however, one day out of nowhere, he told me that he no longer wanted to continue studying. Prior to this, one morning he had seizures. I took him to the doctor, but they found nothing important at the time. Ari had changed. From being a social boy, all of a sudden, he no longer wanted to leave his bedroom, he began to have repetitive thoughts, delusions of persecution, paranoias, he began to have accidents, out of nowhere, one day he would arrive with a broken finger, a sprained ankle, or a bruised nose.
The situation got worse until my partner and I decided to separate. We agreed that he would take care of our daughter, a 2-year-old baby, and I would take care of Ari.
I thought it was part of adolescence, but time continued to pass and Ari got worse, my other daughter decided to go live alone, since the stress was very strong at home, we were afraid, we hid our knives and scissors. At night, I would lock myself in my room because I was scared. He cut himself to put blood on the plants, he blended garbage, very strange things. Finally the diagnosis arrived, schizophrenia, the news was very strong for me, I grew up with an adoptive family because my mother suffered from schizophrenia... I actually never met her because she got lost.
Almost ten years have passed since it all began, I tried everything from holistic treatments and obviously drugs, various internments when he was in crisis and put his life and mine at risk. Ari only saw the girls for short periods of time because coexistence with their brother was impossible. Finally, last year I found a clinic where they started treating him. Every month a psychiatrist evaluates him and has occupational therapies that keep him calm. Unfortunately, the pandemic arrived, I lost my income and started falling behind with my payments, so I decided to come to Los Angeles to work. I have done everything, I have cleaned houses, and my last job was in a lunch box as a cashier. With the second wave and red light, I have lost my job again, since the restaurants closed. My kids need me, especially Ari. At the moment I am making candles to make money, but it is not enough to support the expenses associated with therapy and treatment.
I am asking for your support to raise the funds we need to pay for Ari's treatment. If I cannot continue to pay for the clinic, my son's treatment will be interrupted, which would eventually worsen his condition. I am asking for your help because there is no financial support for patients with mental illnesses or government institutions with this type of treatment in Mexico. Ari's condition does not allow him to be a functional adult and by being alone he is at risk.
I thank you infinitely for your help and hope that it multiplies for you.
Thank you,
Simone.
Organizer
Simone Birdie Engelking
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA