Successes
Patient Success Stories
A little thing perhaps, but the VSC donation of an electric razor for John, a patient on Specialty Services, made all the difference to him. John was constantly nicking himself with the state-issued safety razors. This was a daily aggravation for him, having to deal with these nicks first thing in the morning. The VSC purchased an electric razor for him that makes John’s morning routine easier to get through and each day much smoother.
Cathy has essentially been non-verbal since she was admitted to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (ICAPS) program three weeks ago. While she has attended her therapies and activities consistently, she still was not verbalizing to her peers or to the staff working with her.
Then the horses came to the unit, and Cathy seemed to light up. The VSC-sponsored activity that brings the Hearts and Hooves™ program to the unit made the difference. Twice each month, this program brings miniature horses to the patient units. These horses, not much bigger than a large breed dog, are specially trained to work with people with disabilities, including mental illnesses.
During the first visit with the horses, Cathy began verbalizing to the staff assisting with the horses, and since then she has been able to make noted progress in other therapies. And she is now able to talk easily to staff and to her peers. She was discharged after five weeks, back to her home community.
The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (ICAPS) unit has had a wading pool adjacent to the building for many years. And pool time has consistently been a great motivator for the kids to participate in therapies and behave appropriately as well as provide a good opportunity for exercise. The problem was that we could only use the pool during warm months.
Recently, because of commercial construction on the land just north of the unit, the pool had to be relocated. The VSC very generously donated a pool heater to the unit after the new pool was completed. This past year the kids were able to make use of the pool virtually year-round, becoming much more of an important part of the unit’s activity program and the kids’ daily routine.
Katy was hospitalized at ASH several days before Christmas Day with major depression. Just the idea of spending the holidays in the hospital made the situation even worse. And with the financial situation her family was in, she certainly didn’t expect to be getting anything as a present.
Katy was very surprised when Christmas Day came, and the staff starting handing out gifts to all of the patients on the unit. Nothing extravagant, but nice things that Katy could really use – a personal radio with headphones, a sweater, and a nice robe. The presents were purchased by the VSC, ensuring every patient would have at least a small diversion on a day when being in the hospital is especially difficult.
