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At one time Jake aspired to have a career in sustainable agriculture. He also desired to be a wilderness guide. He excels in all things outdoors, he has proven his skills countless times in downhill races, hiking, mountain climbing and extreme endurance races.
Jake's present reality is far removed from his aspirations of a few years ago. His goals, self-esteem, his mental acuity and even his body are being ravaged by the ever increasing mood swings wrought with anxiety, paranoia and delusions. During the worst episodes Jake suffers with hallucinations.
"So...why a web page? Get your son some REAL help!"
I would have said those very words two days ago. But you see, Jake is now 21 and an 'adult' and he now gets to decide with whom he will share is mental health issues.
He has chosen not to allow his family to help him in any form so Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, NC must abide by his wishes. NOTE: The hospital "neither confirms nor denies" our son is in their facility due to HIPAA regulations.
My son was on suicidal watch less than 36 hours ago, he was involuntarily committed for psych evaluation because he fled the hospital when the police escorted him to the emergency room waiting area to my care (that is another issue). I bonded my son at the recommendation of the Henderson County Detention Health Staff. Jake had been in the "rubber room" as the magistrate told me - the nurse and another officer were much kinder in speaking with me about Jake's confinement. The magistrate also frustratingly asked me, "What is WRONG with HIM?!" I shook my head and replied, "I wish you could have seen him two years ago". I wish I could have had the wherewithal to reply, "The store had a sale on F'd Up!" - people can be unintentionally but incredibly insensitive. At any rate, besides being monitored 4x an hour Jake was never seen by a doctor when he was obviously mentally incapacitated. There is at least one registered nurse, if not more.
Upon seeing Jake's physical condition when he was dropped off at the hospital emergency room my knees buckled; he had two blackened eyes and bruises covering his entire body. He also had perfectly symmetrical burn marks on his neck, I suspect a tazor, but I could be wrong. He also could not talk from his incessant screaming - again, ask the magistrate. Under no circumstances am I suggesting the detention center staff in any way harmed Jake intentionally, but it is more than evident they did nothing to stop Jake from harming himself. The argument can be made that the bruises indeed came from the officers trying to restrain him (to protect him from himself) - none the less, I contend because my son wasn't seen by a psychiatrist for his very apparent psychosis, the detention center was negligent in his care. Would not a detainee with heart pains be seen immediately by a doctor? It is also regrettable we were never notified of Jake's arrest and confinement...but you see - he is 21 and he doesn't have to call us. We learned of Jake's confinement through a family friend at 1:30am Wednesday - he was booked @ 9:40pm Sunday.
All this to say - I find the NC Mental Health Care System INSANE!! How is it an individual who is clearly mentally unbalanced is allowed to make decisions for themself the minute the psych ward doors close? Jake is gracious, clever and he displays a good sense of decorum. He has learned to carefully construct his stories and to guard his behaviors so that situations quickly result in his favor. But he can't fool his family, we are his true benchmark of sanity, and we are a threat to his 'being released on his own volition ASAP' goal. Plus, I believe he genuinely believes there is absolutely nothing wrong with him. As his mom, I'm way ok with him being ROYALLY PISSED with me, but I'm not at all ok that the state won't intervene on my sick son's behalf. Pardee is not allowed to share patient information with me, but they are allowed to discuss hospital policies.
I was told should a patient be admitted under involuntary committal, their stay would be relatively short (Pardee is a short-term facility) - a stay of 3-5 days is usual, but stays can be longer depending on the situation. Please pray tell, should my or your sick loved one be sent to Pardee under court order, how in heaven's name are their symptoms to be properly diagnosed, much less MANAGED in that ridiculous length of time?
As a parent and as a tax paying citizen of North Carolina I am appalled and frustrated beyond belief. I can only imagine the frustration of officers and staff of the county and state, and of course the medical staff at all hospitals. My grief and frustrations are not with the caregivers and officers of the court doing their best within their limits. My grief and PLEA to anyone who will listen to me is...
...how does a family help an adult mentally incapacitated member of their family if the adult doesn't possess the mental capacity to help themselves? Yesterday we were advised that two involuntary committals and 3 arrests are simply not enough crazy and not enough legal mess to have a competency hearing rule in our favor (ultimately JAKE'S favor). Legal guardianship doesn't appear an option at this time. Unbelievable.
Meet Jake, our most wonderful son and a young man full of promise but who is at present suffering mightily with a medical issue. Soon he will be released and the young man doesn't even have a pair of shoes! A gracious lawyer who counseled us today told us she suspects (given what brief information we shared with her) Jake may be suffering with schizoaffective disorder (she is NOT a psychiatrist, she merely made an experienced layman's observation). First time I've heard the term, but I read a bit of the symptoms and I couldn't agree more. Please, someone help us help our son get the mental medical diagnosis and care he so desperately needs.