Wags4Kids ~ Donations for Sonja

Sonja is a soon to be sixteen year old who has been diagnosed with major depressive order, including an anxiety component.  Sonja is in many ways a typical teenager.  She was born in Seoul, Korea, to a teenage mother who wanted a “good home” for her child, but who was unable to provide it herself.  Sonja spent the first several months of her young life in an orphanage and a foster home.  Adopted by us at just six months of age, she joined our family including our son Dan.  Though quiet, Sonja was an active child, participating in individual and team sports from a young age.  She was a very happy and caring child, with many friends.  However, as a middle-schooler, identity and self esteem issues surfaced, and she had less healthy friendships.  Years of therapy through Sonja’s freshman year at high school did not meaningfully address her issues, and in the summer following ninth grade, Sonja‘s mental health issues reached crisis level.  Sonja was placed into a secured residential treatment facility at Bellefaire where she received intensive treatment, therapy and psychiatric evaluation.  Sonja has recently returned to our home and to school following three months of residential treatment.  Sonja continues to participate in group, individual and family therapy where she works to improve her self-image, and her coping and life-choice skills.  Sonja enjoys animals, and the family pets include guinea pigs, rabbit and tortoises.  As Sonja starts on the path of a long-term recovery, it is our family’s hope that a service dog will aid Sonja in stabilizing and improving her mood, reducing her anxiety and raising her self-esteem.  Please help us provide a companion for her.

Make a donation to help Sonja.