A Slightly Silly Story About Apples
Family Testimonial
Dear
Coalition for Community
Living Board Members,
My mother
passed away January 2001 and if only she could see my sister today
she would not believe the differences and strides her daughter has
made since her involvement with Fairweather Lodge. Sue as been
supported emotionally and financially by the Fairweather Lodge
family, along with living under one of the Fairweather Lodge’s homes
from 2000-2005. This past year, Sue has taken the step to begin
living by on her own and most recently Sue was also offered a
position in Harrisburg, PA with the Mental Health Consumer
Association. My sister is Susan Maghrak who was given an opportunity
for change to better herself and her life. She was given this
opportunity under the Fairweather Lodge philosophy and the Coalition
for Community Living. Sue is now presently a Board Member for the
Fairweather Lodge.
Sue started her
journey living under Fairweather Lodge’s philosophy home by living
with other consumers that had been going through some sort of
psychiatric recovery themselves. But, not only living with other
members under a Fairweather Lodge home Sue went under medication
adjustments and followed a strict medication schedule with group
checking (from other consumers she lived with) on each other to make
sure each individual person were taking their medication as
directed. Being a Registered Nurse, just these two areas alone I
knew there would be a small ray of hope for her. The support of
staff and other consumers combined with medication changes and
schedules would be the beginning to give Sue much stabilization in
her life to aid her in the long road ahead. Taking medications is an
important roll to help any individual with mental illnesses and many
other medical conditions. Medications help in reducing or preventing
the risk of further complications, or even slow a disease process
down, reduce anxiety or depression tendencies and give a better
quality of life to individuals, consumers and residents/patients.
Sue has been
given the chance to make improvements to her life, yet be supported,
along with being able work with the Fairweather Lodge in the Erie,
PA area. Though I have to admit things did not get instantly
better, I knew in my heart there was at least a light at the end of
the tunnel for Sue. Especially for my family who tried desperately
so many times to help Sue by giving her direction which only usually
lead to failure and frustration. Life was a struggle for Sue and
especially for my mother who lived with guilt that she couldn’t help
her daughter improve no matter how hard she tried to remedy the
issues. Seeing her daughter with inappropriate actions and social
difficulties portrayed many times was very hard for our mother. It
was such a blessing when Sue was accepted in the Fairweather Lodge
home and they started to assist her in her psychiatric care.
The opportunity
that was ahead for Sue was a difficult task, but would have been
even more difficult without the help of the Fairweather Lodge staff,
other consumers and friends that Sue came to know over the years. I
have seen my sister try very hard to work on understanding her
mental health issues. She would even come over to my house to look
up her diagnosis on the Internet and read about them. She tried to
understand how the diagnosis where affecting her inner self. I
believe life had gotten better for Sue in steps or in
increments, she was learning about herself, experienced her own
accomplishments and new behaviors over time while still battling her
old behavioral habits and ways. Sue was also realizing how more
acceptable she was to the family, friends and society with her own
individualized improvements and accomplishments on herself. She
realized during this time she needed to eliminate her old ways and
move on with the new improvements. Sue was starting to feel more
accepted by everyone around her. Over time Sue has put a whole
colorful painting together with every new stroke that showed
improvement to broaden the picture more. She has drawn together a
whole new life for herself. Though it takes much dedication from the
individuals themselves, I know deep in my heart Sue could have not
made this accomplishment by herself. She was able to succeed with
the guidance, support and rules given by the Fairweather Lodge’s
philosophy, staff and other consumers. Fairweather Lodge is the
means by which Sue could continue to improve her inner self, succeed
in her personal life and social life. Yet have a safe place to live
with people like her challenged by mental illness disabilities.
Living together with other consumer’s made her life more manageable
and was able to help others improve their lives too. Together each
consumer’s strengths and weaknesses under the same direction and
leadership of Fairweather Lodge improved everyone’s outlook on life
and made it possible to function more efficiently in society.
Do I believe
Sue is fully recovered from her mental health issues? I have to say,
no. Sue will always have the mental illnesses that she has been
diagnosed with over the years. It will have to be up to Sue to
continue to take her medications routinely, look for support when
she feels she is loosing control and to look at her accomplishments
over the years to eliminate the fact of a set back or failure. Sue
has accomplished finishing school this past year (2006) with a
Associate Degree in Business Administration and Accounting along
with a Associate Degree in Marketing Management. She also made a
major decision in having a surgery completed that helped her loose
over 130lbs. Again, I feel this truly is do to the effectiveness of
the Fairweather Lodge Family/Community. This renewal of her life
will be an ongoing process and I feel it to be a process where by
one will continue to achieve goals and make plans to better
themselves. It is my belief that Fairweather Lodge has facilitated
and prepared Sue with the functional tools for success.
My mother would
have great relief in knowing that Sue had been taken care of by a
wonderful program that is designated for individuals who struggle
with mental illnesses. You can never take away the quilt a mother
feels because something is wrong with their child and wondering if
they had something to do with their disabilities maternally or when
they are growing up. But, I feel my mother would had been quite
relieved and proud knowing Sue was being taken care of, loved and
accepted for who she is. Just the very fact knowing Fairweather
Lodge individuals were willing and able to look past the Sue’s
mental illnesses was the first big step in Sue’s great enhancement
of life. These group of individuals were willing to see the very
potential that Sue had to offer to herself, family and to society.
I do not know
how to express my gratitude to such a wonderful group of individuals
who continue to follow Dr. George Fairweather beliefs, and have
continued to pull this program off successfully. But, I do know that
I must pass this experience on to others to complete the continue
progression of helping others in need. My sister needed to have
ownership, meaning in her life and ways to accomplish her activities
of daily living. I feel that was given to her by Fairweather Lodge’s
way of life. It created a greater commitment for my sister and she
continues to succeed everyday with this program being available to
her.
Mary Ann C.
Minnis
Testimonial - Enrico J. Bianco
My journey in recovery began in August of
2004. When I started, my life was ravaged by addiction and I was
completely desperate and in a depression that lasted years. At that
time I did not know where or in which direction I was going. The
only thing I knew was that I was heading further and further down.
Everything I experienced seemed empty and hollow. Simply put, I did
not know how it was going to end but it had to end. All I can tell
you about that time was despite all odds I was able to ask for
help. This was the key which unlocked all doors entering
treatment. I was given an opportunity for change. In a few short
months after detox and medication adjustments I was able to see a
small ray of hope. I was then given the chance to live and work
with Fairweather Lodge in Erie, PA. Things did not get instantly
better. Life was a struggle and I knew that I had a long road ahead
of me. As time progressed I gradually began to change. I learned
things about myself, some good some bad. The opportunity that was
ahead of me was a difficult task. The more work I did to understand
my addictions and mental health issues the more rewards I benefited
from them. As months progressed assisted by a 12 step recovery
program and friends in Fairweather, life got better in stages or a
little bit at a time. What I was learning and experiencing was
recovery. It was like pieces of a puzzle joining together to show a
greater picture. Piece by piece more was revealed, but I did not do
this alone. Fairweather Lodge was the means by which I could
continue my recovery, a safe place with people like me challenged by
disabilities. We all get better together. That’s what I had
learned, by no means is my recovery complete. I believe it to be a
process where by one can achieve goals and make plans to better
themselves. It is a road to travel and let the journey be your
reward. In the past few months I have been challenged by many
adversities. It is my belief that Fairweather Lodge has enabled and
equipped me with the tools for success. I no longer feel depressed
and alone and my experience in Fairweather Lodge has been life
changing. I do not know how to express my gratitude but I do know
that I must pass this experience on to others to complete the cycle
of helping others in need.
Peer Specialist Certification in Western PA: A New Perspective
on Recovery Training and Education
There is much excitement and enthusiasm
generated from a new project that provides statewide certification
in Pennsylvania to individuals who participate in trainings for the
peer specialist initiative. In March of 2006, 20 persons who are
either peer specialists or interested parties with a background in
Mental Health/Substance Abuse services will attend educational
sessions in peer support. This new training will consist of role
playing, group activities, take-home study and examinations. The
goal of this course is to successfully pass participants. All
applicants receive or have received services for disabilities and
plan to utilize training to assist others who wish to join in the
mutual mission of recovery. Peer specialists currently employed are
responsible for providing support for individuals who are seeking
help and who participate in activities that focus upon empowerment
and self-improvement. Some of the peer specialists who will receive
training will work at Stairways Behavioral Health’s Fairweather
Lodge program. One senior staff member, Robert Chandler, who works
at the Training Lodge in Erie, has been a peer specialist for
several years. Mr. Chandler uses his talents to elicit much needed
understanding of the concepts and principles that drive the
organization. “One must feel as if they belong to something bigger
than themselves. Consumers need to have ownership and meaning in
their daily activities. This is what creates commitment” says
Chandler. When asked about upcoming opportunities in certification
he states that “this is what we all have been waiting for. This
training puts us all on the same page with common goals to support
ourselves and others. Another Peer Specialist who works in the
Youth in Transition program which opened in January of 2005 is Scott
“Mugsy” Ross. Mugsy, like Robert, also views peer support as a best
practice. He states, “We now have the opportunity to utilize our
experiences to impact other people’s lives in a positive manner.”
Who knows better how to apply common sense solutions with empathy
and understanding “On my job I have the responsibility of educating
young men with mental health disabilities on how to deal with
every-day life.” My experience can finally serve a purpose in
helping others in need. With regard to the certification process
Mugsy states, “This is a golden opportunity for us to learn skills
that we can directly apply and affect consumers outcomes. All of
the peer specialists at Fairweather in Erie see certification as a
process that holds great promise. It may well be a new way of
implementing recovery principles that empower not only those
directly affected by the training experience but all individuals
touched by those who further it. Overall the positive attributes of
the experience will result in peer specialists learning new methods,
techniques and subject matter and passing that knowledge on to the
consumer. Ultimately by educating peer staff in the recovery
process we invest in individuals who will continue to invest in
others. This “domino effect” might very well lead to an increase
services provided and utilized. It also heads the direction of
peers helping peers. This practice is without parallel.
Personal Testimony – Bruce Ario
I have been a client at Tasks
Unlimited for over 17 years. There is no other treatment I have come
across or could conceive of coming across that has been more
effective in helping me with my diagnosis of schizo-affective
disorder. The path has been one of alleviation of my symptoms and
the carving out of a social role in society that is acceptable to me
and society.
My life was not always acceptable. I lost three jobs in
quick succession before coming to Tasks. My ideas were extremely
grandiose. Friends were disappearing fast. Although I had a college
degree and two years of law school, my future was turning bleak.
Thank goodness I was able to turn to Tasks Unlimited. I
think that now, but it was with some reluctance that I came to the
program. It would mean I would have to go through a rigorous
training program earning less than minimum wage. Then I would be a
janitor starting out little better than minimum wage.
But I was thankful I had a roof over my head in the form
of a lodge, a Tasks group home. It wasn’t long before I really began
to appreciate my lodgemates and the way they gave me support and
kept me in line.
On the jobsite I became a lead worker and a van driver.
Then I became a marketing assistant. Later on I became the editor of
the company newsletter. I was still hoping to do something besides
janitor work when Tasks opened their first mailroom and made me
supervisor. Then a second and third mailroom came along. Now I
supervise two mailrooms in downtown St Paul – the IRS and Army Corp
of Engineers. In fact, my coordinator calls me “Mr. Mail”.
I’ve experienced disenfranchisement,
homelessness, and jail as the result of my illness. The way society
dealt with me was worse than the illness itself. Finally at Tasks
I’ve found people who are willing and able to look past the illness
to see the potential that the illness just couldn’t take away.
Testimonial by Susan A. Maghrak
My journey to recovery started in the summer of
2000. My life was going like a tornado spinning out of control. My
problems seem to start out small and ended up in a big mess. I
didn’t know how to resolve issues in my life or how to stay out of
trouble.
It started when I was a child with a Learning
Disability and ADHD problems. When I became an adult I was diagnosed
with a mental illness, which were, severe Major Depression and
Borderline Personality Disorder. With my symptoms from the mental
illness it caused me to destroy my family relationships and my life.
Then a miracle happened, it’s when Erie, PA
Stairways Behavioral Health opened the first Fairweather Lodge in
PA. I was one of the 150 people who applied to the lodge and was one
of the first voted into this lodge. It changed my life for the best.
I learned so much about my illness, how to deal with people, working
skills, life skills, and how to handle my behavior. One reason why
this program worked is that it held me to be responsible for my
behaviors and I needed support at first to take my medications.
During my stay at the lodge I became a
crewmember of a cleaning position at Stairways and worked up the
ladder by becoming a crew leader. Then I became one of the first
peer specialists for Fairweather Lodge on 18th Street in
Erie, PA. During this time as a crewmember and peer specialist I
traveled and talked about the program to people around the state. I
became a board member in 2002 for the Coalition for Community Living
(CCL) and 2004 became one of the first Executive Council Members for
the lodge. This past year 2005-2006 I have been living on my own. I
also have obtained two (2) degrees A.S.B degree in Accounting and
Marketing and Management. I also volunteer for the SafeNet Program
for Domestic Violence as a counselor and advocate. More recently I
have been able to purchase a new car, 2006 Focus and accepted a
position as a Western Regional Coordinator for Pennsylvania Mental
Health Consumer Association (PMHCA) in PA. One other success to this
program is my family’s trust is starting to build back up. It’s been
a slow process because of the hurt and pain I gave my family over
the many years because of my past behaviors. But, this process is on
its way and it’s a new beginning for all of us. It’s a process I
cannot give up since I will always need the support of my family.
I’m so grateful for the opportunities that the
Fairweather Lodge gave me over these past 5-6 years. I want to thank
everyone such as my counselors, other consumers, friends and
especially my family. They all helped, supported and especially
believed in me when I didn’t think there would not be any hope for
myself. But, most of all to show this appreciation, I feel I need to
continue to educate the public, families and legislators on this
amazing program. Especially, to educate on the success it is known
to present with myself and other consumers who have succeeded and
went through this amazing program.
Susan A. Maghrak
Board Member for the Coalition for Community
Living since 2002.
