Hi, my name is Crystal. I’m a nationally certified medical assistant with over 13 years of experience, a single parent, and the primary caregiver to my highly gifted, high-functioning autistic 15-year-old son.

Over the past two years, my focus has been on helping my son recover from severe suicidal ideation. His father died by suicide when my son was two years old, and supporting my child through that crisis required everything I had. I’m incredibly proud of how far he has come — but in the process, I’ve come to recognize how much of my own unresolved trauma I’ve been carrying for decades.

I’ve spent my life working hard, helping others, and pushing forward despite significant childhood and adult trauma. In my career, I regularly help vulnerable and homeless individuals access care and recovery services. I’ve often been too proud to ask for help, but I now find myself emotionally, financially, and physically exhausted.

I’ve reached a point where my ongoing burnout, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation can no longer be pushed through without meaningful intervention.

I am seeking a trauma-informed residential treatment program focused on nervous system regulation, burnout recovery, and long-term emotional healing. My insurance covers some of the cost, but there are remaining treatment-related and living expenses during this time.

This fund is to help cover those remaining costs so I can fully focus on healing — not just surviving — and return home healthier, more stable, and better able to provide for my son. My goal is to break long-standing cycles of trauma, restore my nervous system, and build a sustainable future for both of us. Then continue helping the community.

Any support, whether financial or by sharing this fundraiser, truly means the world to us. Thank you for helping me take this step toward healing and hope.