Please help Venetia and Jay
Donation protected
Hi Everyone, my name is Venetia. My life has changed drastically since Saturday, February 11, 2023. My husband suffers from a severe mental health illness. We have tried several times to get him help but there is a huge waiting list for new patients for psychiatrists. On Saturday, my husband looked at me and said I need to go to the hospital, I can't take this anymore. I took him a hospital where they took one look at him, and the tattoos on his face, gave him Valium, told me to feed him, let him sleep and he'll be fine. This was yet another failed attempt to get my husband help. After leaving the hospital, I said to him, I'm stopping and getting us food so I don't have to cook for us and the kids, he responded, okay. Shortly after we arrived home, my husband took a half a bottle of Benadryl to end his life. He stated, he couldn't deal with his mental health illness anymore. Thankfully, I was able to get him to the hospital in time. He was disoriented and out of his mind from the things he ingested to attempt to end his life. Moments later he started to have a seizure, doctors came running in and asked me to leave the room. When the seizure ended the doctor told me my husband needed to be intubated and put on a ventilator. I asked why, the doctor stated, he needs to calm down, and his system needed to be flushed in an attempt to save his life. I asked that they do everything they could to save my husbands life. I stood outside the room, watched my husband get intubated and a machine breath for him. The doctor came out, walked me to the consultation room and said I needed to prepare for the worst. I asked what that meant. The doctor said, Jay may not wake up or if he did wake up there may be brain damage due to all the medication he took to end his life. I was so scared, alone and just broke down at my husbands bedside after hearing this devastating news. With Jay fighting for his life, I have been forced to leave a job that I really loved. My husband was the primary caretaker for our son who has severe autism/ADHD and needs 24 hours supervision. I’m not the type of person to ask for a handout or help. I have always worked very hard to support my family but right now I can't. I'm asking for any help possible, please. I have bills that need to be paid, and need to keep a roof over my children’s head. When Jay is able to come back home we'll have to pay for his medication. That is going to cost an arm and a leg but he can’t be without his medication for his mental health illnesses or he may try and take his life again. They always say go for help if you have depression or any type of mental health illness. He did, he begged and no one helped him. Because there was no help or no one wanted help him, he tried to end his life. I feel horrible asking for help. Both of my parents have passed away. I have no financial support, it's only me now. With me not being able to work right now, I will lose everything. If you can't donate, please share. Thank you so much for your time and help in advance. Please remember, if you or your loved one is in need of mental health support, reach out for help!
Organizer
Venetia Kouzis-Stallard
Organizer
Myrtle Beach, SC