PLEASE MEET DONNA & LIA:
Donna asked, "Do you think you could find somebody to watch my dog while I go into treatment?" I immediately made an assumption, "Is it heroin?" No she said, "It's mental health".
Donna is a veteran, she served from 1988-92, both in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She's hoping to receive treatment at the Washington Veterans Home in Port Orchard. She would be there for 4 months but needs to first find a place for her loved dog Lia.
I told Donna I don't need to tell why she needs dog-care, that there are so many dog-lovers that just asking would be enough. Donna replied, "No, I want to share what I am going through, nobody talks about mental health even though the results of it are going on around us all the time."
Donna has experienced a great deal of it going on around her. Her father was an alcoholic, took his own life when she was 11. In her 30's she lost her sister to cancer and 4 years ago her husband divorced her. She said that at that point in her life she just turned off and shut down.
Turning off and shutting down led Donna into homelessness, she's been living in her car for the last six weeks.
Donna shares that she suffers from depression and anxiety. As we talk she tries hard to explain the feelings of PTSD, telling me that the emotions of the moment, are not just what is going on at that point in time, that with it come all the emotions of the past, right to the forefront, feelings going from nothing to overwhelming.
We shared a long hug and agreed to be life-long friends.
If you think you might want to foster Lia for four months, please comment below and then private message me on this page with any questions. We want to make sure it's a good fit!
A bigBIG community size HUG to you Donna for your courage. Please know that you have so many people reaching out to you with support and love!
Fremont neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness
