12/03/2025
I want to tell you about one of our clients — I’ll call her Maria.
When Maria’s second baby was born, she expected to feel immense joy. Instead, she felt a heavy fog settle over her. She blamed herself for not being a “good enough” mother as each week grew harder. Her husband tried to help, but he worked long hours; her toddler sensed her distance; her home slowly filled with tension.
Without realizing it, Maria began shrinking from the world. She stopped returning her sister’s calls, withdrew from friends, skipped church, and pulled away from the very people who loved her. Her bright little boy began acting out — desperate for attention he didn’t understand he was missing.
Maria’s sister suggested counseling, but she couldn’t find anyone who accepted Medicaid without a long wait list. By the time Maria found VIPCare, she felt broken. “I’m failing my kids,” she whispered through tears. But she wasn’t failing — she was hurting.
Thankfully, VIPCare didn't have a wait list and accepts people of all financial statuses. Through compassionate, supportive therapy, Maria learned to name her postpartum depression, manage her anxiety, and speak gently to herself again. Her laughter, energy, and hope returned. Her son and husband saw their sunshine come back. Her marriage strengthened. She became the friend who checked in on new mothers, the neighbor who restarted a community playgroup, and the wife and mother who offered empathy instead of anger and hopelessness.
Maria’s healing didn’t stop with her — it rippled outward into her home, her family, and her community. That's the thing about mental health - it doesn't exist in a vacuum. EVERYONE is affected.
Right now, this kind of healing is at risk. An estimated 302,000 Virginians are expected to lose their Medicaid benefits in the coming year. That means many people who currently receive care will suddenly have no mental-health coverage at all. At VIPCare, approximately 40% of our clients already lack the insurance or income needed to access therapy—and this number is about to grow dramatically.
Without your help, we will not be able to meet the need. Will you consider helping someone like Maria today? Your gift will change lives, and will be matched 100%.
https://vipcare.networkforgood.com/projects/245689-support-vipcare
