"My mom was the pillar of our family. She’s amazing and I want to do something really special for her.”
Debbie says things she did when she was 21 continue to ripple through her life.
When a work opportunity Debbie wanted to come through didn’t, she attempted suicide by jumping off the second-floor balcony at her mother’s house.
Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of Montreal Gazette Headline News will soon be in your inbox.
“It was very hard for me,” Debbie says. “When you’re young and things don’t work out, you’re not thinking of the consequences sometimes.”
Debbie was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
“I remember when I was diagnosed, I thought, “Why me?” but when you’re bipolar and not medicated, you do unreasonable things. But today I’m medicated and I feel so much better.”
Debbie spent a year in hospital because of the illness and says her mother came to see her every day.
“I was only thinking of myself and I felt like I didn’t know what else to do, I was so depressed. But I was always close to my mom, she’s strong and was there for me. She came to see me every single day.”
Her mother, 88, now lives in a CHSLD long-term care residence and needs surgery. But because of her condition, she’s unable to get one. And while Debbie sees her mom once a week to help take care of her, she is hoping the Montreal Gazette Christmas Fund can help her do something for her this year.
“I don’t have a good income, I’m just able to pay my rent, and during the holidays I can’t really do anything, but I do what I can for her,” Debbie says. “I know she loves jewelry so maybe I’ll get her that. My mom was the pillar of our family. She’s amazing and this Christmas I want to do something really special for her.”
How to help
This article is representative of the people your donations will be helping. Because of resource limitations and privacy restrictions, the Montreal Gazette cannot accept non-monetary contributions. Donations to the Christmas Fund can be made online at www.christmasfund.com. Please direct all inquiries to christmasfundinquiries@postmedia.com.
People struggling with mental-health issues can call Info-Santé at 811. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 911 or Suicide Action Montreal at 1-866-277-3553. You can read about more resources here.
-
We're already breaking Christmas Fund records
-
Christmas Fund: Rachel's leukemia is in remission, but has taken its toll
-
Christmas Fund: Grandfather is adjusting to being a father again
