Help Cerise Heal

Hi, My name is Heather. I am fundraising to help my daughter Cerise, who is nine years old.

In August of 2021, my ordinarily funny, friendly, outgoing daughter began changing into someone I did not recognize. She wouldn’t sleep alone. She woke from nightmares several times a night. She did not want me to leave her sight, crying if I took out the trash without telling her where I was going first. She did not want to leave home. Simple excursions like going to the grocery store turned into full-blown meltdowns. Daily tasks became difficult. Her joy was gone, and the rages that replaced it were both dangerous and frightening. Her hopelessness became so severe that she told me she wanted to die.

Our mental health system is currently OVERWHELMED with patients. The counselors/therapists in my insurance network were not accepting new patients. Meanwhile, Cerise was spiraling out of control; her behaviors and rages increased in intensity for reasons I did not understand. I turned to a friend in the mental health industry, and she recommended an excellent therapist who was NOT in my insurance network but could see Cerise immediately. I jumped at the chance and began paying out of pocket for weekly sessions in January 2022.

In her first appointment, Cerise revealed that she was assaulted by an adult that she deeply trusted. We left that appointment with a PTSD and DMDD diagnosis, and our mental health journey began.

As of today, Cerise is speaking openly about her experience. She is learning skills to help her cope with her many emotional storms. Her school is working with a newly developed IEP to help her succeed educationally. The difficult days are many, but therapy is helping Cerise put the pieces back together. It is a painful process for both of us as we rebuild our relationship.

I am asking for your help. Cerise is now fully covered by Medicaid. Sadly, Medicaid is not accepted by the therapist she has progressed with over the last ten months. Trust is a crucial issue for Cerise, and I do not want to shake the foundation built so far. I am advocating for additional psychiatric care through Medicaid, but it is a waiting game.

As most of you know, I am a single parent who does not receive child support. Cerise's father is a 100% disabled Marine and combat veteran. Disability cannot be drawn from by the state for child support without his approval.

For perfect clarity, I aim to raise enough to continue Cerise’s trauma therapy for the next year and a cushion for those "surprise" expenses that could easily crush me financially. I have exhausted my savings to stay afloat, but I assure you I will keep fighting the good fight. Thank you for reading.

Heather xo