Today's Email Bag

Hey Kevin,

I've been a lurker on your blog for a couple of years now.

Thought I would share that some of the things you have written helped
me deal with a real challenge, which was my choice to help a 24 year
old mentally ill young man get medical care to save his life. I
checked your blog a lot to get perspective on what people who aren't
housed go though. It was valuable and helpful to me to read all the
different perspectives you presented.

My family and friends thought that I was crazy for doing it. The truth
is was that it was really really hard , but that it has been of the
one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. My friend was
sometimes psychotic and angry and I put myself in harms way. I also
got to know a person who is creative, insightful and highly
intelligent. He will be starting college in 2 weeks.

I feel like I have learned the following:

That it takes a long time for someone to get their life stabilized,
even if they want to. They need chances and compassion and resources
without judgement , and understanding that it is easy for someone who
is not housed,to lose valuable posessions again and again and have a
lot of setbacks.


Even psychotic angry people deserve medical care if they are seeking
it, and someone who can really listen to their cries for help. My
friend went from clinic to clinic freaking out and noone helped him
until he went into respiratory arrest and started having seizures. I
wondered if he had a major medical problem that was going to kill him
because it seemed like he was at death's door.

As it turned ou he needed his wisdom teeth out. I took him to over 5
different dental clinics and 10 appointments before we could finally
get an appointment to get that done. Once the teeth were out, his
health stabilized. It wasn't rocket science, but the public health
establishment sure made it seem like it.

I truly believe that as a country need to spend money on helping
stabilize people like him, helping people who just need a little lift
up to get housing do that. It was one heck of an eye opener.

please feel free to post this if you like.

It has been great to see you blog about the changes in your life and
the things you have learned on the journey.

Just wanted to let you know that the free work you do makes a difference.

peace,

Heather