11 yr old Suicide Attempt & Medical Fund
Donation protected
My nephew, Jesse (11), was "happily" playing tether ball at 6:30pm on Thursday night, October 15. By 9:30pm, he was at the ER haven been taken by ambulance after taking 3/4 of a Costco-sized bottle of Advil (estimated 400--200 mg pills). He told his mom (my sister, Tara) and then his sister that he had a headache, but what he was really experiencing was heartache that prompted him to try to end his life.
Suicide attempt at eleven years old.
Let that sink in.
As of now, he's in and out of consciousness, disoriented, confused, and begging to go home. But he's still in the ICU for at least 2-3 more days and then will be transferred to a psychiatric facility for a mandatory 72 hour hold (if there is a bed; if not, ICU will keep him until there is one). How terrifying will that be to an 11 year old?
In the last 48 hours, drastic action was taken to save his life:
- Intubation
- Stomach pumped
- Monitor every level of everything and adjust accordingly
- EKGs
- CT scans
- Chest X-ray
- Dialysis
- Central line and major meds
- Suctioning of mouth as to not suffocate
- Oxygen
- Epinephrine
- Constant bloodwork
- Sedation
- Waking procedure that was difficult to endure
- Several lines installed aside from central for continuous blood pressure and blood draws.
- Catheter
- Diaper
- Dry baths
- Brushing teeth with a suction brush (hated that)
What could prompt an 11 year old to try to end his life? "Friends" decided to block him and not share why. If he could have gone to school to fix relationships or had an opportunity to connect with new kids, that would have made a difference. The covid19 pandemic is taking its toll--even on kids this young! In addition, day of his suicide attempt, he was embarrassed at school just one more time. He got in a fight with his sister yet again, and his mom took away his gaming remotes and phone. That's a lot for an 11 year old boy that just wanted to make connections and feel secure.
I would love to help raise money to offset the extreme expenses the family will be facing to get Jesse physically and mentally healthy again. But it is even more important to my sister that awareness be raised that children this young can both have suicidal thoughts and act on them. It all happened so fast and was a huge shock to the family. Jesse went from complaining about a headache to complaining about a stomach ache--whereupon my sister asked him if he took more Advil than he was supposed to take, and he responded, "why would I do that?" to vomiting, so Tara called 911 immediately.
Please lock up your medicines (*especially* Tylenol &/or sleeping pills of any kind) and give your kids an extra hug tonight. Openly talk about mental health being as important as physical health in your families and remove the stigma associated with mental health issues.
(Tara and her family have Medi-Share insurance that will not cover anything related to suicide attempts. 100% of what is raised will be used to cover Jesse's medical expenses.)
Suicide attempt at eleven years old.
Let that sink in.
As of now, he's in and out of consciousness, disoriented, confused, and begging to go home. But he's still in the ICU for at least 2-3 more days and then will be transferred to a psychiatric facility for a mandatory 72 hour hold (if there is a bed; if not, ICU will keep him until there is one). How terrifying will that be to an 11 year old?
In the last 48 hours, drastic action was taken to save his life:
- Intubation
- Stomach pumped
- Monitor every level of everything and adjust accordingly
- EKGs
- CT scans
- Chest X-ray
- Dialysis
- Central line and major meds
- Suctioning of mouth as to not suffocate
- Oxygen
- Epinephrine
- Constant bloodwork
- Sedation
- Waking procedure that was difficult to endure
- Several lines installed aside from central for continuous blood pressure and blood draws.
- Catheter
- Diaper
- Dry baths
- Brushing teeth with a suction brush (hated that)
What could prompt an 11 year old to try to end his life? "Friends" decided to block him and not share why. If he could have gone to school to fix relationships or had an opportunity to connect with new kids, that would have made a difference. The covid19 pandemic is taking its toll--even on kids this young! In addition, day of his suicide attempt, he was embarrassed at school just one more time. He got in a fight with his sister yet again, and his mom took away his gaming remotes and phone. That's a lot for an 11 year old boy that just wanted to make connections and feel secure.
I would love to help raise money to offset the extreme expenses the family will be facing to get Jesse physically and mentally healthy again. But it is even more important to my sister that awareness be raised that children this young can both have suicidal thoughts and act on them. It all happened so fast and was a huge shock to the family. Jesse went from complaining about a headache to complaining about a stomach ache--whereupon my sister asked him if he took more Advil than he was supposed to take, and he responded, "why would I do that?" to vomiting, so Tara called 911 immediately.
Please lock up your medicines (*especially* Tylenol &/or sleeping pills of any kind) and give your kids an extra hug tonight. Openly talk about mental health being as important as physical health in your families and remove the stigma associated with mental health issues.
(Tara and her family have Medi-Share insurance that will not cover anything related to suicide attempts. 100% of what is raised will be used to cover Jesse's medical expenses.)
Organizer and beneficiary
Megan Thomason
Organizer
Carlsbad, CA
Tara Cole
Beneficiary