Remembering Dennis

Schizophrenia is a challenging medical illness that transcends the individual. It also affects family members and caregivers, and is often misunderstood, as my family painfully realized when my brother, Dennis, was diagnosed with it in his early twenties. We, as a family, did not know what to do. Dennis began going to a clinic each week where he received a shot that made him like a zombie for most of the week. Over the years, his life consisted of his staying in his bedroom, smoking pack after pack of cigarettes, retreating into his own world, and not caring about himself or socializing with anyone outside of the family.

Our family was heartbroken and at our wits’ end not knowing what to do to help him. As the years passed, our mom and dad passed away. Dennis had lived with them all his life. We were faced with the challenge of finding him adequate housing, which we did through Ocean State Outreach, a program of Fellowship Health Resources in Rhode Island. His new extended “family” now included a wonderful staff, including a caring nurse, Donna K., and program director, Kevin Medeiros.

Dennis lived in various apartments with other clients and we could see some improvement. When there was an opening at Fellowship House, a group home in Rhode Island, Dennis moved in and thrived. He loved the staff. Even though he could drive them to the brink, I know the care and love Dennis received from the staff just made his day. A special thanks to program director, Davina Neves-Pope, who worked with Dennis at Ocean State Outreach and Fellowship House and, from day one, never gave up on him. My family is eternally grateful to her for always being there for Dennis and our family.

We can’t say enough about the Fellowship for helping our beloved Dennis, who has since passed away. Fellowship gave Dennis a life for over 10 years and helped our family more than you will ever know. Thanks again, and God bless all of you.

Editors Note: This article was contributed by Joyce B., the sister of a former client, Dennis, who died in 1997 after over 10 years with FHR. She recently participated in our Town Hall meeting for family members.