I wasn’t sure how much detail to go into about David. I don’t want to embarass him or make him feel bad. So, first I asked him if it was OK to talk about him and he said it was. So, the following is just a summary of about 3 years of dealing with his increasing illness. If any of you think this is a bad idea and want me remove it, I will and I will understand why.
David began to have problems when he was about 15. The first thing I remember was when he came home from school and told us that he had been sitting in class and looking out the window. He saw someone walking across the school grounds toward the school and somehow he knew the person really wasn’t there. He also began to hear voices.
We had a program with IBM called Employee Assistance where you could go see a therapist if you were having problems. So, we signed up Dave for a visit and he went in and talked to this guy. After the appointment, the therapist told us this was more than he could handle and suggested we talk to the people over at the Mayo Clinic and St Mary’s hospital where the psych ward was.
I don’t remember the sequence of events, but David was going through a lot more than we realized. He became suicidal. He ran away several times. I remember him disappearing and I would drive out on the road to St Charles and find him riding his bike out in the middle of nowhere. I could never get him to tell me what what going on (at least, not then), but the voices were telling him to do stuff and as his father and mother, we just didn’t know what to do.
I asked a brother in the ward to give him a blessing. I guess I was thinking it was like the exorcist and he could be prayed healthy. But, that didn’t work. Things got worse and for his own safety and the safety of the family, we had to have him put in the hospital.
The first time they put Dave in the psych ward was for two weeks and we were not allowed to see or talk to him for that period. He went to the psych ward several times over the next couple years and even spent a few weeks at St Peter, MN where the state mental hospital is. They finally found a treatment that allows Dave to live a life that comes as close to normal as he can get. Things will never be normal, and while I doubt if David would agree with me, I think David is a very special individual. I’ve seen him do things that regular people would not think of doing. I love him very much and wish with all my heart that he could live a normal life, (he’s officially retired) but if that is not to be, then I’m looking forward to a life hereafter when he will be treated like royalty.
Dad
Hi Dad,
I have to say, I am behind in your blogs and this caught my attention. You explained it fine – I think Dave would agree. He’s not at fault here and it is definitely something that occurred in our lives that is very significant and important. I didn’t know how it all started so it was nice to hear. But Dave is unique and the coolest cat around. He’s very busy though, in his retired state, so make sure you make an appt. if you need to get ahold of him.
Love ya Dad,
kate