Before dinner we were privileged to attend a panel discussion/mixer with several renown researchers, psychiatrists and social workers with Johns Hopkins Hospital. Family members were invited for 90 minutes to ask any and all questions. It was an important first step in bridging the great divide between people who work in the field and families who are the primary caregivers of someone with a serious mental illness from all across the country.
After the mixer we went to the Admiral Fells Hotel for our dinner and working advocacy discussion. Laura invited me to share information about P82 Project Restoration.
Laura inspired us with regard to advocacy work and introduced our speakers. She also put together bags for every parent/family member that included special treats from the Baltimore area, information, goodies and books, some written by authors in attendance.
Thank you Laura! She worked so hard to make this mixer/dinner incredibly special!!
The above quote came from this night, you saw it here first...
John Snook with Treatment Advocacy Center spoke with us among others...
I shared about local efforts and was appropriately introduced by Laura as the fellow advocate with the "big mouth."
Amazing group of people!
Many parents could not attend or had to cancel at the last minute due to responsibilities and difficulties at home regarding the care of their loved one. We hope many more can join us next year.
The following day we attended John's Hopkins 4th Annual Symposium on Schizophrenia.
"Neuromodulators relevant to Psychosis"
It was a privilege to hear from and meet Ronald Chase, author of "Schizophrenia, A Brother Finds Answers in Biological Science." Not too many dry eyes from the moms in the room after his lecture.
The other lectures were fascinating regarding cognition, psychosis and development. It was heartening to hear from the researchers regarding their work and to know that men and women continue to search for answers to these cruel diseases. I am so grateful for their dedication.
And the cherry on the top was spending a few days afterward with my sister from Washington, DC. She has been and continues to be one of my biggest supporters!! I am so grateful for my sis and her family.
You did a great job speaking! It was just what we all needed to hear! Can't wait for June:)
ReplyDeleteLord willing I will be able to either meet you at one of these eye-opening symposiums or even fly out there together! I am so proud to know you! You are the absolute right individual to head up Matt Salmon's task force... Between you, Rep Matt Salmon and Senator Nancy Barto I belileve our nation and particularly our state our on the cusp of real change . I have dealt with my own mental illness in one way or another since I was 9 years old. That was all the way back in 1965. Evidences of Matt's began when he was 6 years old, in 1989. I have the history of a completed suicide from an immediate family member and more than anything I want to see a Big dent put in eradicating this gut-wrenching disease. Thank you for all you have done; for caring so much and for your willingness to build (from the ground up) a home that you and your husband will eventually manage so that SMI men who might otherwise be left to the streets as no one would want to take them in; prsion because of crimes they commited while not under proper med-management as well as proper supervision. Then there are the famiies like mine where we have done our very best for 32 years and are just wearing out, wearing very, very thin & just hanging on by a thread... Thank you so very much... I heard Laura speak Deb, but if there is a link where I can hear your talk at the Parents for Care, let me know...
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