What gives me hope and inspiration is the bravery and fortitude of my two children. What gives me strength is the other families and caregivers I’ve met on this long journey. What gives me HOPE and keeps me going is the exceptional doctors, nurses, therapists, peers and providers who give all their heart and compassion on darkest days. Both of my children are in recovery from episodes of psychosis. My daughter, diagnosed first with depression, anxiety and anorexia, eventually presented in full-bloom mania and psychosis before doctors really knew the best diagnosis/treatment course for her.
Unbelievably at one point, both were hospitalized at the same time in two different hospitals, when we realized our son was facing the same psychosis as our daughter. It is still hard to fully process that time or since. My son had a second episode a year later. My daughter, after four years of stability, found her life upended again last year by psychosis that took months and months of numerous inpatient stays, medication trials and [other treatment] to abate. Thankfully, our son stayed stable in the care of his outpatient team through it all.
As I share today, I am living in hope that our girl has come back to us, and with the embrace of excellent care and research at university hospitals, her life is coming back into view for her. With the support of her Peer Support, she is on her way to becoming one herself. With a 10-year journey of her own that’s been nothing short of miraculous, her heart, empathy and recovery will be a source of light for others. Both of my children are still home recovering with our support, and our son is carving out his Plan B, C & Ds, as well, on his terms! I’ve become engaged with a wonderful caregiver platform that is affiliated with outpatient care teams.
My work as a visual artist inspired by nature, planting flowers, taking walks in gardens and forests and having the cuddles of support dogs has been a good recipe. Thank you for all the advocacy and research you propel through the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance. Your new toolkit is a tremendous wealth of insight and information. May all receive the early care and compassion our family has come to find and hold onto it with HOPE!
