UPDATE!!
ROSE Has Entered the Program at THE DORM NYC
Hello Friends and Family --
We have an update on Rose's mental health journey (original story below, in case you missed it)
Thanks to the generous help and support from our wonderful community, Rose has finally crossed the threshold and begun her treatment program in New York at The Dorm https://thedorm.com/
We are thrilled to report it's going well, she is excited, and responding positively to the environment, the people and the program.
THAT'S THE GREAT NEWS!!! Now comes the work of maintaining the program for her, which is unfortunately very costly and not covered by insurance. We are doing all we can as a family.
If you haven't already, please consider donating to Rose's *spotfund. Any amount helps. And please, share the link with friends and family who may wish to contribute to support Rose's recovery and development. Please help us continue to provide the incredible care Rose is finally blessed to be receiving. We are forever grateful.
THANK YOU!
Peace and blessings,
--Lewis Fam
(original story follows)
Our Sweet Rose Needs Mental Health Treatment...
Most of you know Rose as a passionate adventurer, a kind and generous friend, a brilliant artist, a creative powerhouse, an unstoppable force in general. What some of you may not know is our incredible Rose has been dealing with mental health challenges since childhood, and over the past few years those challenges have become more prominent to the point of debilitating. Rose has come to a point now where she needs intensive treatment in order to resume, continue, and move forward with life.
Over the years we have explored countless healing modalities, from high-end therapists and psychiatry, to integrative physicians and homeopathy; along with skill building, dance, yoga, martial arts etc…. Some have provided temporary positive results, some have not. But all in all, nothing has "stuck".
After a few years of an intense cocktail of psychiatric prescriptions in ever-increasing doses with ever-decreasing benefits, Rose (and her parents) decided to send her and her service dog Leo to Ko Samui in Thailand to detox, re-set, and prepare for real healing. Five months later, she has returned to the States, staying temporarily with her grandmother in Florida -- free of all her meds (thank goodness) but dealing with debilitating depression/anxiety/social anxiety/sensory overload -- and searching for a program that specializes in mental health issues, that will be the right fit for her in as many aspects as possible.
We as a family have identified a program that we feel is a great fit and will positively benefit her. The program is called The Dorm, located in NYC.
Rose visited there recently and responded excitedly, positively to the environment, the other clients and the staff. One special feature of this program is that its main focus is on integrating its clients back into life. Treatment Tiers begin at a level that meets each client's needs, and titrates down incrementally from there over the course of several months. Additionally, a unique feature of The Dorm is that along with a client's traditional therapist, they also have a "therapist coach" who works with them out in the real world supporting them in their journey towards successful living, working and independence. This is a truly life-changing/saving opportunity!
That's the GREAT news. The not-so-great news is that the program (and indeed many like it) is out-of-reach financially for most folks. And insurance companies don't recognize these types of treatment centers as "traditional" IOP/PHP (intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization) programs, and consider them out-of-network. They may reimburse a small percentage after-the-fact, but no guarantees.
We are seeking $50,000 to fund Rose's mental health recovery journey. This fund will cover her for three tiers of The Dorm's program, allowing her over the course of several months to gain much-needed life coping/sensory skills, get the proper medication in place and stabilized, begin working in the world with a team to support her, be surrounded by a community of people who understand and can relate to this challenging journey, live, experience joy in her accomplishments, and before long resume a positive and productive life.
Rose is planning to attend grad school in September ’24 to attain her masters degree in Public Policy -- She plans to continue her work affecting positive policy change in education for girls/women in several countries, as well as mental health, wellness, and support for people with disabilities.
Rose is a brilliant bright light who has positively affected so many people.... We'd love for you to be a participant in her recovery, to assist her in her journey towards the health that will enable her to continue shining that bright light out into the world.
Please feel free to pass this to any family or friends who you think might be open, interested in supporting Rose on her healing journey.
P.S. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please don't suffer alone, there is hope and there is help. NAMI is an amazing resource, they have local chapters everywhere.
https://www.nami.org/HomeThe most incredible therapist we've ever worked with was found through them. You are also more than welcome to reach out to Hara, she has a lot of resources and is more than happy to help. haralewis26@gmail.com
Keep the Faith.
Love, Peace, and Blessings to you all,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
The Lewis Family
