About Us
Face Everything And Recover
FEAR Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced youth in accessing medical care and treatments.
Compassion, integrity, and inclusivity form the core values driving our foundation. Each child should be looked at with empathy and understanding, recognizing the unique circumstances of every experience. Transparency and integrity guide our actions, ensuring that our resources are allocated effectively to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we assist.
Our Story
Many of us may not realize that traumatic experiences can affect individuals beyond physical harm. Even when physical injuries are treated and the body begins to heal, people may still endure psychological or emotional distress. Untreated psychological shock can potentially lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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In saying this, we focus on raising much needed funds to support under resourced children, youth and their families that may not have the same access to receive the mental and physical treatments as I did. With our support, we aim to help children who have faced trauma, and provide them and their families equal opportunities to begin their healing journey. We want to assist them to Face Everything And Recover, ensuring that no child's future is defined by their past experience.
A Message From Our Founder
"Following my accident, I experienced a profound sense of worthlessness. Going into seventh grade I wanted to avoid the constant attention and the feeling of being pitied, so I switched schools. However, the anonymity brought its own challenges; the constant questions about my limitations made me feel equally inferior and since I am emotionally reserved, the impact of my accident brutally affected my mental health.
I began internalizing everything. The hospital recommended that I go to counseling and at the first session I remember that she made me write down what I had felt. The anger, sadness and helplessness had made me question, Why did it have to happen to me? Why did I have to have these injuries? Why was my recovery so slow? It had even led me to question the purpose of my survival, especially when every step forward in my healing journey seemed to be followed by a setback. This cycle took a toll on me, both mentally and physically.
As I entered seventh grade, my daily life wasn’t the typical life of a child in middle school. With the constant doctor visits, physiotherapy, counseling appointments, etc... had made me miss out on typical social gatherings such as birthday celebrations, field trips or even declining invitations to friends' homes due to dietary limitations and my overall wellbeing. This further heightened my feelings of helplessness and isolation. Over time, these circumstances led me to question my own existence. Trying to express my emotions was a difficult task, as it felt like everyone struggled to comprehend what I was going through. This didn't just affect me; it also strained the relationships I had. Despite my immense gratitude for being alive and acknowledging that things could have been worse, my physical and mental struggle continued. Eventually my parents had started to notice my change in behaviour and mood and got me help, in which case I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression.
Although I had many negative feelings towards the accident, I came to realize that everything happens for a reason. My accident made me into the resilient and determined individual I am today. Without the unwavering support from my family, friends, and medical professionals, I don't know where I'd be today or who I would have become. We must understand that someone's healing process is a journey often overlooked in its duration and complexity. Even eight years later, I am still recovering.
The establishment of this foundation has become another stepping stone in my recovery. I want to help survivors who may not have the resources to receive access to treatments and therapy. I also want to acknowledge the impact these experiences have on their families. All I can say is that healing is personal and doesn't stick to a timeline. Through FEAR Foundation, I aspire to communicate that it's okay to not be okay and help children and youth access necessary treatments and support to heal, allowing them too to Face Everything And Recover."
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Marisa Della Maestra, Founder of FEAR Foundation