Brett Jenkins' Treatment Fund
Donation protected
Hi, folks. Brett's friend Lewis here.
For anyone who doesn't know her, Brett Jenkins is a magnificent writer, teacher, partner, friend, and human living in the Twin Cities. She's also someone who very publicly lives with mental illness and has been struggling for a long time with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Things recently came to a point that resulted in a serious hospitalization, and Brett knows that it's time to get help.
She's is currently in the mental health unit at a hospital in St. Paul and has found a residential treatment center near Chicago (Timberline Knolls; http://www.timberlineknolls.com/), a women-only program that specializes in many of the things she's up against. Brett's therapist and her doctor have both identified her as perfect candidate for Timberline, which was echoed by the intake coordinator on a recent eligibility interview.
However, Timberline Knolls is expensive. The average stay is upward of $30,000 and 30 days -- longer for some women.
Quoth Brett, "That's the price of a small house or a really fancy pony."
Brett's currently in talks with her insurance provider to see if a one-off exception to her network can be made because of the center's very specific programs and intense endorsement from her caretakers, but it's a long shot. If the provider won't accept the program, Brett is looking at not only full program costs but the expenses of getting to Chicago, the balance on previous medical bills (including two hospitalizations), rent, and everything that comes with life. Brett also had to step away from her job upon hospitalization.
The good news is that Timberline already has a bed available for Brett, so upon raising $10,000 this is an on-the-spot and done deal. Even if her insurance comes through--reducing the total cost to $4,000--the goal is to begin raising funds immediately so that, in any case, Brett can begin treatment as soon as possible. If an excess is raised, Brett and her husband Will will be taking care of some of their expenses and then donating the rest to a mental health organization.
This is a hard ask. Brett's very nervous for a lot of reasons--not the least of all because depression can make you believe you don't deserve help. And this is a big request, but talking to her today (Tuesday, March 14), I firmly believe that this is the program she needs most and the one she's able to more firmly put her faith in. If you know Brett, you know what an inspiration she is as a person, a friend, a writer, a companion, and as someone who's so open and transparent about living with and taking on mental illness. I know her resistance to asking for these types of kindness, but when I asked what an opportunity like this would mean to her she said, "I want to get better. I want to have a future."
Thank you for your kindness, and for your belief in that future.
For anyone who doesn't know her, Brett Jenkins is a magnificent writer, teacher, partner, friend, and human living in the Twin Cities. She's also someone who very publicly lives with mental illness and has been struggling for a long time with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Things recently came to a point that resulted in a serious hospitalization, and Brett knows that it's time to get help.
She's is currently in the mental health unit at a hospital in St. Paul and has found a residential treatment center near Chicago (Timberline Knolls; http://www.timberlineknolls.com/), a women-only program that specializes in many of the things she's up against. Brett's therapist and her doctor have both identified her as perfect candidate for Timberline, which was echoed by the intake coordinator on a recent eligibility interview.
However, Timberline Knolls is expensive. The average stay is upward of $30,000 and 30 days -- longer for some women.
Quoth Brett, "That's the price of a small house or a really fancy pony."
Brett's currently in talks with her insurance provider to see if a one-off exception to her network can be made because of the center's very specific programs and intense endorsement from her caretakers, but it's a long shot. If the provider won't accept the program, Brett is looking at not only full program costs but the expenses of getting to Chicago, the balance on previous medical bills (including two hospitalizations), rent, and everything that comes with life. Brett also had to step away from her job upon hospitalization.
The good news is that Timberline already has a bed available for Brett, so upon raising $10,000 this is an on-the-spot and done deal. Even if her insurance comes through--reducing the total cost to $4,000--the goal is to begin raising funds immediately so that, in any case, Brett can begin treatment as soon as possible. If an excess is raised, Brett and her husband Will will be taking care of some of their expenses and then donating the rest to a mental health organization.
This is a hard ask. Brett's very nervous for a lot of reasons--not the least of all because depression can make you believe you don't deserve help. And this is a big request, but talking to her today (Tuesday, March 14), I firmly believe that this is the program she needs most and the one she's able to more firmly put her faith in. If you know Brett, you know what an inspiration she is as a person, a friend, a writer, a companion, and as someone who's so open and transparent about living with and taking on mental illness. I know her resistance to asking for these types of kindness, but when I asked what an opportunity like this would mean to her she said, "I want to get better. I want to have a future."
Thank you for your kindness, and for your belief in that future.
Organizer and beneficiary
Lewis Mundt
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
William Braun
Beneficiary