#metoo Veteran Recovering from Attempted Suicide

My name is Jeni Mizzell. On June 9, 2020 my husband (Martin Mizzell) tried to take his own life. Thankfully, he did not succeed. But, here we are - just over one month and two stays in an inpatient mental health facility - facing (what seems to be) more insurmountable obstacles. I once heard it said that everyone is one paycheck away from being homeless/on the streets. How true I have found this to personally be! Time neither stops or slows down for anyone. My husband has been our sole means of financial support for several years now and the purpose of this campaign is to raise funds to cover expenses while working to get him to a stable place. 


To be clear, I am neither incompetent or unwilling to work. In fact, I have been working tirelessly to do everything on my own. My family and friends live over 1200 miles away and I alone shoulder the responsibility of conversing with doctors and putting together safety plans (with three kids screaming in the background) and also driving my husband from one hospital to another with all three children buckled in their car seats. And remember what I said about time not slowing down for anyone? My kids still expect to be fed 3 (if not more) times per day. They still need help taking a bath and brushing/flossing their teeth. I still do all the laundry, cleaning, and cooking. Our situation is further complicated by the fact that these same three children require both occupational and speech therapy. Our plan was to homeschool them (at least for the first year of school) while we continued their in-home therapy for auditory processing challenges, fine motor skills, and to correct their speech impediment/challenges before sending them off to a world that can be so cruel when you don’t measure up to what’s deemed “normal.” 


Plans change, however, and now I am trying to fast track the kids to get them in school so I can find a job to support our family. I am also in the process of trying to secure an employment attorney to represent us in court concerning the very thing that pushed my husband over the edge. Additionally, my husband has a diagnosis from his doctors of severe PTSD and chronic MDD from things that took place while serving in the U.S. Army. More about that later, however. I am literally focusing on one step at a time for my own mental health and the well being of my family. I used to think that there was absolutely no way that one person (or family) could have so much bad luck. Who knew my family would be the recipient of said “luck?” 


For the sake of transparency, I will be very forthright in where the money will go in paying bills for the following 6 months. Rent for  6 months: ($13,440), rental insurance ($168), van payment and auto insurance ($4,032), utilities (water, sewer, gas, & electricity) $2,200. I would also like to take any additional money to buy my kids the things they will need for school and/or apply it towards legal fees. If at all possible, please consider how you can help monetarily. I’m not asking for money to take an extravagant vacation or to go on a shopping spree. I’m merely reaching out in desperation to keep my family off the street while helping my husband gain stability and my children to get the help they need while also looking for work (after being a stay-at-home mother for the past 6 years). Thank you for taking the time to read my lengthy plea for help as well as any help you are able and willing to provide!


*Also, before making assertions on how rent could obviously be cheaper, please consider that we are a family of 5 going from a 6 figure salary to nothing… committed to a lease already in place. Thank you!