Author Archives: David's Father

update – positive news

teeter totter & swingsStaff called tonight.

David was in a good place to talk to me tonight.  When he is manic, it just isn’t a good idea.

 

David addressed his concerns.

  1. Doesn’t want to be there for another 6 months to a year.
  2. Thinks that he is being lied to.
  3. Doesn’t understand why we aren’t coming out for Christmas.
  4. Wants a Nintendo DS for Christmas.

 

 

 

In truth.  Before David can come home, not only does he need to work his treatment plan, but he also needs to avoid outbursts, and learn to identify when he is starting a manic episode if he can.

In addition to that, before he can come home, there needs to exist, a residence that is similar to the facility he is in currently.  One that will provide him a step-down or transition to home.  A place from where we can stage home visits.  Where he can eventually be returned to public school.  Which will also mean getting his home school district involved, and get them to a point where they are comfortable with him in their facility.  Let’s face it, if they aren’t comfortable with him being there, things are just going to go right back where they were.

I explained each of these things to him.  I also explained them to his staff.  His time there is determined by two things.  One which he can control to an extent, and one he can not.

In the coming months, I plan to approach my legislators to see if funding can be available to establish a residence hall in one of the facilities in our state for kids like David.  Kids who are out of state, in care, and need a facility from which to transition either home, or to a group home or less restrictive environment.

This is my mission in life.  We didn’t ask for him to be placed 500 miles from home.  He is there, because there were no other viable options.

an update. close watch again

David is on close watch again.  He is under the belief that no matter what he does there, he is going to be moved to another facility.

But that is not entirely why he is on close watch. Seesaw

He is on close watch because:

  1. he climbed to the top of his closet and hid there.
  2. he is threatening to self harm again.
  3. he is combative.
  4. he is tearing large pieces of wood from the bottom of his bed.
  5. he is at risk.

I don’t know if he is delusional or what, but I do know that in the past when he has been like this, it has had a direct affect on my health.  See, I have an auto-immune disorder.  Lupus.  Systemic.

Basically what that means is my body doesn’t like me, and when I feel stress my body goes into self attack mode and tries to hurt me by attacking my heart other internal organs.  This is why I had the heart issues and stuff the summer David was home between placements.

I give the staff credit for working with him.  I know just how difficult it can be.  Sure it what they are paid to do.

So kudos to staff for keeping him safe.  I appreciate it.  My family appreciates it.  Anytime that you need to call, please do so.

They said it is like he is bipolar.  (I reminded them that he IS bipolar)  but these people are not doctors that work with him everyday.  so once they reviewed the notes, they realized that they had missed that.  Hindsight.  I can’t fault them for that, they have a whole building full of kids with autism and other mental illnesses.

Life with David is like playing on a teeter totter.  You have to find a balance and maintain it as long as possible.  If one side changes the slightest bit, the other needs to do the same.

An update on the Crisis Mode.

It is midnight here at the home.  Just got a call from staff.

David was taken off “close watch” at 2 pm this afternoon.  What this means is that they have loosened his keeper.  He doesn’t have someone practically attached to him.  And while he will be monitored frequently, he won’t have someone sitting in his room watching him sleep.

He remembers what happened yesterday, and is working to articulate what happened.

This a huge positive for David.  He usually doesn’t remember his manic periods.

His treatment is still set back a bit, but he is still leaps and bounds where he was when he was admitted last January.

Thank you to all of David’s readers.  Countless numbers of you have offered prayer and positive thoughts.  Believe me, in my mind it has helped.  Words can not express how it feels to have so much support from people who don’t know David except through these pages.

We are currently reviewing David’s meds to see if an adjustment is necessary.