The honeymoon was over. We had been married for almost a year, and the relationship between my new wife and my daughter was rapidly deteriorating. At first we didn't notice much - it was summer, and she was out with friends all the time. And some money seemed to be missing from my wife's purse. And my other three sons would also find money missing. Then just before school started we get the call.

She just needed a ride home. From the hospital. Because her best friend was there. They had been huffing lysol, and she passed out and wouldn't wake up. She did later that night and was released, but it was an immediate wake up call for us.

The first step was a local teen treatment facility. She was admitted, stayed there a week or so, then did the outpatient program for a couple of weeks, then was back at school. But it wasn't enough, and a few weeks later she was back, with a threatened suicide. This time they pushed her through a bit faster, as the insurance (limited to 30 days inpatient mental health coverage - LIFETIME) was running out. We finally got her into a regular psychiatrist after this. It was simply amazing how you can have a crisis, and not a single doctor has room for a new patient.

We tried several different tasks, but nothing helped. A third time she ended up in the hospital after taking extra doses of her medicine. More therapy, and more blowups. Finally the school called. She was spending so much time either in the nurses office or the counselors office, every day, that she was completely disruptive to the school. With three weeks to the end of the school year, we were told if she wouldn't stay in class she couldn't come back.

At wits end, her biological mother offered to try for the summer. At first it seemed to go well, but once school started it deteriorated at a metoric rate - until I get a call on Saturday that she is flying back on Sunday.

At wit's end, we found TeenHelp.us, and they guided our admission process to Cross Creek Manor for my daughter. They gave us a list of escort services and helped arrange for a student loan. During a time of crisis when we had no where else to turn, they helped out. My daughter was escorted to Cross Creek Manor on 9/23/05. I truly believe that had we not done this, then she would be on a rapid path to jail or death.