A dear friend tried to kill herself on Thanksgiving... [View All]

[AnArmyVeteran]

A long time friend who is one of the most gentle and beautiful spirits in this world reached her breaking point on Thanksgiving night. She took a knife and plunged it into her chest trying to reach her heart. She almost succeeded.

She has been unemployed for a long time and she knew the small amount of money she was getting in unemployment compensation was going to be terminated this week. The lack of uncertainty about her financial future, coupled with the extreme stress of trying to find a job overwhelmed her.

My friend is the most kind, sweet and gentle person I believe I've ever known. She has such a beautiful spirit who brings such peace to everyone near her. But the peace that radiates from her is in direct contest to the turmoil she feels inside.

Like a lot of sensitive and caring people, she is also very timid and vulnerable. In addition to the total fear she has been feeling an ex-boyfriend has floated in and out of her life causing her even more stress. It also seems as if many in her family are very condemning and unsupportive, so that added even more to her burdens.

She was staying at another friend's house since the first of summer and she seemed to be holding her head above water. But as she realized losing her unemployment checks became more and more a certainty, she decided to kill herself with a long knife.

It rips my heart out to realize how close she came to ending her life. And she is just one of millions who are facing the same fears throughout our country. People have varying abilities to cope with their circumstances, but even the strongest people can become overwhelmed by life.

I can't even comprehend people who are so callous and filled with hate they have no empathy or compassion for their fellow man. What kind of a country are we becoming where helping the needy is even a debatable issue?

I'm asking everyone to send thoughts of strength, hope and peace to not only my friend, but to the tens of millions of others like her who are living with constant fear and uncertainty.

My friend is in the hospital and is now in stable condition. She is receiving blood every couple of days and she is conscious and able to communicate. Although she is getting her physical needs met, she also needs our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for helping...