My dear friend from high school is going through a rough patch right now. Allison met her husband Marc 32 years ago when she was just 17. Allison was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease that has left her legally blind. On top of that, she was diagnosed with depression eight years ago. Although life has been one challenge after another, she has lived her life with grace and has raised two handsome teenaged sons.

A year ago, things took a turn for the worse. After her father passed, the stress of holding her family together was the final straw. She had her first “episode” and woke up in a mental hospital. Apparently, one night she went into a rage and stabbed her son’s favorite stuffed animal. She doesn’t remember a thing. That’s when she found out she was bipolar and was in the middle of a manic attack. Now mind you, Allison is one of the sweetest, gentlest person I know. I was not there (she lives in Oregon) so it’s hard to imagine her raising her voice, let alone violently attacking a stuffed bear. After another “episode,” her husband asked for a divorce. Because of her condition, she’s unable to work. So not only is she losing her family, but also much-needed medical insurance.

It gets worse: last month, Allison attempted suicide. After landing up in the hospital again, Marc told her she was no longer welcome to come home. She’s staying with her mother in Florida, trying to make sense of it all. When she’s ready for visitors, I’ll fly out to be with her. As her friend, I feel so helpless. I went through a painful divorce many years ago, but her situation pales in comparison. I remember at the time feeling so alone. No one called—it was as though I had leprosy. I don’t want Allison to feel alone, but yet how can she not? Her blindness makes her world dark. Her depression makes her outlook dark. And her husband’s lack of compassion is cruel and dark. I fear she’ll try to take her life again.

Please, please pray for her healing. I know what can happen through the power of pray. Thank you.