Category: Newsletter

On May 22, 2014, Hopewell resident Mike Erro finally received the medals he had earned 40 years earlier for his service as a U.S. Army Light Weapons Infantryman in Vietnam. The entire Hopewell community watched with pride as Sgt. Ryan Thomas pinned six medals, including the Purple Heart, onto Mike’s jacket.

It was an emotional and memorable day for Mike, made possible by Hopewell staff who had worked with him since his admission in February 1997. The day also marked a turning point for the quiet man who has suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and, since his return from the Vietnam War in 1969, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Joined by family members long estranged, and overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection from his peers and the staff of Hopewell, Mike began to open up. That day he said, “It seems like I haven’t realized before how much people in my life like me.”

“I came to Hopewell thinking that I am defined by my mental illness. By being here, I became aware that I am so much more than that,” says Dana, age 24.

Dana arrived at Hopewell in late August 2015 after a two-week hospitalization. “I felt like I could finally breathe again. It was like a breath of fresh air, literally.”

In 2013, Dana graduated from Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. She had a particular passion for fabrics and textiles, and did a great deal of fabric dying and screen printing.

Left at an orphanage in Korea at six months of age, beautiful, healthy little Mariko was adopted a year later by a loving couple who brought her home to Northeast Ohio. Throughout her school years, she excelled at everything. She studied in France during high school and became fluent in four languages. In 2007, she graduated with honors from American University in Washington, DC, with a degree in International Studies and an eye on law school. Mariko’s future was bright.

My daughter, Liza, is a resident at Hopewell for a second time. I want to tell you our family’s story. My husband, Richard, and I have two daughters. We have always been a close-knit family. We thought life was challenging when Richard lost his job in 2008 and in 2009 when he was diagnosed with cancer. No matter how we have been tested, we have remained strong. But in July 2010, we thought we were fighting for our lives. Liza, our beautiful, gifted oldest daughter, was facing court-ordered confinement in a state mental hospital/ criminally insane facility. Her crime? She is dealing with schizophrenia with paranoid delusions.

No one wants to think of traumatic brain injury, especially when it impacts a brilliant young man in his early 20s. In a heartbeat, a tragic automobile accident forever changed the life of Bill G.

After many years and treatment at other facilities, Bill came to Hopewell ten years ago. He is part of our Extended Stay Program. Last month he celebrated his 64th birthday. And he celebrated his third month as an employee at the Wal-Mart store in Middlefield.

Casey P. is excitedly planning to move from her home in Ohio to pursue her dream of becoming a professional actress. Acting is her passion, and anyone who spends even just a few minutes with her would be sure she will succeed. At age 26, Casey is vivacious, bubbly, bright and beautiful. She exudes a warm and open self-confidence that she believes has grown from her experiences as a resident at Hopewell…

I met Johnna early in the spring this year. On the surface, she appeared scared and shy. I met with her parents and instantly could see the love they had for their daughter. Johnna is part of a close-knit family, the sixth of nine children. She was home schooled by her mother, and the entire family is active in their church. My heart felt heavy as Johnna’s parents described how desperate they were to find help for her. They told me about Johnna’s years of dark depression and their confusion about how this could be possible for such an intelligent and talented young person. They asked,”Do you think Hopewell can really help her?” My answer was, “Of course.”

Entry in Erik’s personal journal, July 26, 2013: “I woke up with vague memories of hurting myself last night. I didn’t tell anyone. I have stayed in my room all day avoiding my parents. I don’t want them to know. I can’t tell anyone my bad thoughts. I have been very depressed for awhile now and have not been having real good thoughts about myself, not really liking myself very much I guess. I don’t take any medications anymore. I have lost contact with all my friends. I used to work sometimes, not anymore. I’m not doing much at all. After those thoughts above, I guess I hurt myself again, this time pretty bad. My parents found me and called an ambulance.”

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects about one percent of the population worldwide. It can affect anyone at any time, but typically strikes in the early adult years. People with active schizophrenic symptoms often will interpret reality abnormally.

Each year during Hopewell’s Summer Solstice benefit, generous guests “raise their paddles” to support our mission to help people with serious mental illness find hope and healing. This year’s Fund-a-Need will support a new family home for recently graduated residents.

Joel Budzar, our guest speaker at last year’s Summer Solstice, is a proud graduate of the Hopewell program who is now an instrumental member of the team renovating the new family home.