| Mental Health America Bell of Hope Memorial |
In Loving Memory of
Hello, my name is Ruth and I am Mark's mother. I lost my son on 11/28/07. The grief and pain a parent suffers when they loose a child at the age of 32, or at any age, and under the circumstances surrounding his death, cannot even be put into words. A part of me died when my son died. It was a very painful, frustrating journey that I traveled with Mark as I watched him mentally deteriorate over the last 4 or 5 years of his life, and being unable to get him the help he so desperately needed. A mother should be able to fix things, or so I thought, and it tore me apart that I couldn't. It broke my heart and Mark's spirit every time he was denied services. I can't imagine that we are the only family that has suffered the same experience with the state of Massachusetts Mental Health Services. He was denied service through the Mass Dept of Mental Health as well after his second suicide attempt. Their answer was "we don't feel your condition warrants our services", not even granting him an interview before they made their decision. This was one of the most discouraging denials we had received and left both of us with such a feeling of hopeless. Something has to be done to prevent the death of many people like my son Mark. Money is wasted in so many ways in this state and within our government and it has to stop. More resources need to be directed in expanding this state's facilities and faculty and the ability for people to easily access them, to help the countless number of people who are suffering in so many ways. My family goes back for generations, working and paying taxes in this United States of America. It goes beyond saying it is deplorable that people like myself, and countless others, couldn't and can't obtain the help for their loved ones before it is or was too late. I'm not wealthy so therefore, I was unable to send Mark to any private facilities. That's a very sad fact that thousands of people have been faced with. Families, like mine, that have helped build this country and paid their taxes for countless of generations. When will this change? When will our government realize how many people, young and old, have died needlessly when many of them could have been saved??? My son was so gifted in many ways....he had an extremely high IQ, was a singer/song writer, an artist and could do anything with computers, all self taught, just to mention a few. He was, unfortunately, unable to deal with life. He lived in a tormented world within his own mind as a result of the multiple disorders he suffered from. He has left a whole in the hearts of many who loved him, in spite of the fact that he felt he was unlovable. Please,
let's find the ways so desperately needed to help others before it's
too late for them, before more
dreams
and lives go unfulfilled and the suffering continues. To
those
who have much and have not experienced mental illness within
their families
and to those who hold the power and money to do something
about this epidemic, please remember this....But for the grace
of God,
there
go I. I
am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with your family. I came across Mark's mother's post while searching for resources for National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day - May 8th. My heart aches for all of the parents and I am now even more committed to doing all I can to help our families find resources and services. I can't begin to understand your loss, but my prayers are with you. I think you are so courageous and strong to stand up for your son and so many others who are unjustly being turned away! Mental illness is a life treating diease and should be treated as such. I will be speaking up in my own community on this issue and my chuch will be praying over this. I hope your voice is heard all over the nation, by people who can really make a differance. God Bless. Your story about your son brings sorrow to my heart. You have experienced my greatest fear. I have a 26 year old son who has mental illness and substance abuse and he often feels hopeless. He was able to get treatment in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Massachusetts has a grand 'transformation' program and they should be shamed by this tragedy. To Mark's Mom, I still cannot believe that you're not here. You are missed very much by me and all your other friends and of course your family. I hope you're flying free now! I grieve the lost of Mark Presterone as well as countless of others who did because of hopelessness. It's even sadder that many of our American soldiers are going through this too. I will people will know that hope, peace and comfort can be found in Jesus Christ. I wish that people who suffer mentally would read Jeremiah 29:11. I am so sorry for your loss. I cant imagine the pain that you
are feeling, but, I want you to know that you are in my prayers.. To Genny, I hope and pray your son is doing well. I was happy to hear he was getting help. You are right...The Mass Dept of Mental Health should be ashamed of themselves. Thank you for sharing. Mark's Mom, Ruth
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