Emily Progin, PR and Communications Coordinator
eprogin@helphopelive.org / 800.642.8399
COFFEE SALES WILL HELP ADOPTED 13-YEAR-OLD RECOVERING FROM PTSD
“Jason Wants to Heal—He Wants to Live Life Instead of Just Surviving It”
HARTLAND, Mich—The Livingston County community and coffee fans across the region are coming together to support a worthy cause: intensive treatment for Jason Teagarden, a 13-year-old whose family needs help covering the costs associated with multiple debilitating mental health diagnoses resulting from childhood trauma. In partnership with the national medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live, Rise & Grind online coffee sales will spread hope for Jason and his family.
Purchase coffee now at: https://risegrind.us/jasons-fundraiser/
$5 from every single purchase will be donated to Help Hope Live in Jason’s honor to assist with medical and related expenses.
Additional online donations can be made at any time at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/21165/
About Rise & Grind:
- Rise & Grind was established in 2015 to provide speedy coffee service and sumptuous roasts to Southeast Michigan in addition to online coffee sales nationwide.
- “We want our customers to feel like welcomed and familiar faces, not just customers,” explained founder Kara Fischhaber.
- That community-minded focus led Kara to partner with the nonprofit Help Hope Live to provide support for Jason’s fundraising campaign.
About Jason’s Cause:
Janine and Jay Teagarden adopted Jason at six years old along with his younger brother. Jason had spent four years in the foster care system and had experienced significant and terrifying traumatic events as an infant and toddler. “Some wounds and illnesses cannot be seen,” explained Janine. “Our son has such wounds.”
Now 13, Jason is receiving intensive, 24-hour-per-day mental health treatment and monitoring to help with debilitating symptoms including hypervigilance, meltdowns, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, and persistent feelings of fear, worry, and guilt. His diagnoses include complex PTSD (CPTSD), general anxiety disorder, ADHD, asthma, and others. Many of Jason’s symptoms were exacerbated by the widespread chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We found ourselves in a cycle of hospitalizations, medication trials, and appointments,” explained Janine.
While Jason’s treatment is essential to a healthy future, insurance refuses to cover the cost, which tops $15,000 per month. For the 15-month stay that Janine and Jay are anticipating, they will owe $200,000 out-of-pocket.
“We have drained college savings, retirement savings, refinanced our house, and maxed out credit,” said Janine. “We have leveraged all the debt available to us. We need our communities’ help.”
To help with this intensive burden, they turned to the trusted national nonprofit Help Hope Live for medical fundraising. Jason’s medical condition is verified, and funds raised are fully managed by the nonprofit to cover only verified treatment-related expenses.
Donations can be made online at any time at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/21165/
“Jason is a true survivor,” Janine explained. “He is a caring little boy with a heart for Jesus—intelligent, talented, athletic, and creative with energy to spare. This long-term program will provide him with the highest level of therapy to better understand himself and his brain. He wants to heal—he wants to live life instead of just surviving it. Every dollar counts—even the smallest donation will go a long way.”
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient. Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $165 million to pay patient expenses. ###
Written by Emily Progin
