I apologize for the delay in getting back to you in response to your encouraging messages -@izzyred9400, @Armygirlarmyof1, @Susanna527, @SavageMrsMoose, and @pedal__power. It was a busy week and you all lifted my spirits. Thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

We were able to get some recommendations for treatment options for his depression and reached out to 12 different providers. We met with one doctor by phone on Friday while I was at the airport waiting for my flight and the call went longer than anticipated — and despite being close to my gate, I ended up missing my flight! 😬.

My departing flight was at 3:00pm and my return flight was at 3:30pm so I mixed up the times and thought I could make it to the gate with plenty of time to board. Instead of boarding at 3:00pm, as I thought, the plane pushed back from the gate at that time! Fortunately, there are hourly flights between DC and Boston, so it worked out fine after the initial stress. I was able to make a bunch of inquiry calls before the end of the day on Friday, while I waited at the gate for my rebooked flight, so the missed flight was really a blessing. I was even able to set up an intake assessment for the following Monday!

Over the weekend, we were able to stabilize the crisis and get into a healthier routine. After three meetings on Monday with a therapist, doctor, and the intake staff, he was approved for about six weeks of residential treatment and the waiting list was anticipated to be 2-3 weeks, which is very encouraging with today’s mental health crisis and resulting shortage of beds. We had some more meetings and calls (e.g., psychiatrist about medicine, vacation/ leave of absence approval, etc.) throughout the week, and I learned a lot about the continuum of care options while coordinating out-patient treatment as a follow-up to the residential setting. For example, I didn’t know I had to request a case manager with the insurance company before setting up the bed with the treatment facility. With a waiting list of 6-8 weeks at one out-patient option, it might be difficult to get the timing just right but I’ll do my best.

For now, I’m concentrating on developing a check-in system in coordination with local family members for monitoring throughout the day. We are fortunate to have this kind of support for one another as we make sure he is building back some ability to function in terms of daily activity. Anyway, things are going as well as possible so thanks again for your support.

Between caring for my uncle, mother, father-in-law, great-aunt — and supporting my son, brother (who is looking for a new job), and cousin’s family — I’m so deeply appreciative for my sister and her husband for doing so much on a weekly basis. My brothers do what they can but so much responsibility falls to my (nurse) sister and (physician) brother-in-law. I hope we can make a better plan to alleviate some of the burden from them in the coming months. Carpe Diem, everyone! Life is complicated, but the good days bring us resilience, so let’s store up the positive energy for when these tough streaks hit us.

Best wishes to all and thanks again for being here!