Hope for Carter

My dear friends,

My name is Nellya Sevostyanova and I am the head foil coach at 

Manhattan Fencing Center. I have created this page for Carter Hodges.

I would like to share this story for close people who have known Carter from childhood and have been close to this family for many years.

Several of you have asked me over the years - "how we can help Carter?" I promised, that would let you know when your help is really needed.

Unfortunately the time has come that I need to ask for your help . 

Carter's father and I are asking for your generousity during a time of crisis. We need your assistance because we do not have the resources to fund the addiction and mental health treatment that he so urgently needs.

As you know Carter experienced a life altering event at the age of 14 with the loss of his mother. He has still not addressed his grief in a meaningful way. Lisa's passing happened not long after he had returned from a national fencing tournament in Dallas. One evening during the tournament a gunman opened fire with the intent of shooting police officers. Unfortunately

Carter was walking next to a Dallas police officer just when the gunman shot and killed this law enforcement officer. There are many other tragic aspects to this story that I will not elaborate here. Two days later he went home only to find that his father needed to rush Lisa to an emergency room. Afterwards

she spent time in the I.C.U., and finally hospice.

During the pandemic Carter spent the last two years of high school remotely. as with many students, the psychological ramifications were severe. He came extremely close to not graduating. During most of this time he was unable to fence, and there were no tournaments.

He soon turned to the heavy use of alcohol and marijuana to avoid all his fears.

At the time he did agree to psychological treatment, however,these sessions were limited to a couple of days a week.

After three months of the program he started making progress. He began to have hope, was getting in great shape, and enjoying life.

In September 2020 things took a turn for the worse.

Carter's addictions were really worsening. Like many addicts he learned to manipulate people and situations.

He took a full time coaching job in Atlanta. I had sincere hope that the responsibilities of this job could help turn him around. Unfortunately that did not go as everyone had hoped.

He was fired from that position. The owner of the club told me that he believed Carter was severely addicted. He was using substances heavily. Often everyday and for most hours of the day and night.

He needs help. The addiction is controlling his life, and it is bound to get worse without treatment.

His way of coping with depression and PTSD is drinking and smoking.

Carter's father ( David ) has told me that things have only gotten worse since he has been home. Begins self medicating in the morning and continues until he essentially blacks out.

David and I have spent two weeks doing research and talking with staff at several long term facilities.

Through the help of American Addiction Centers we have been in close contact with one of their facilities in Nevada.

Carter would be evaluated, then go through a process of medical detox. After that he would work with councilors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. This is a 24/7 residential facility. His length of stay should be three months, with the possibility of living in a sober house next three months afterwards.

The link of Desert of Hope attached https://https://americanaddictioncenters.org/treatment-centers/desert-hope

We all want to see him recover and lead a meaningful, productive life.

He agrees that this is really the only path forward.

Carter, David and I would appreciate any support that you would be willing to provide.

Please help safe his life

PS. Also, I would like to let you know that I am planning to bring him to the Vegas and I am person who will care of this found.

I will send out all payments report

Nells