Cabbie's sister proud of brother's long journey to recovery

Dear Mr. Mosher:

I was pleased to read your article "Kenora man was High as a kite cabbie" (Enterprise, January 25).

1 have a very personal interest in this story and the events surrounding it, because I am Wayne Lax's sister and know from first-hand experience the pain and suffering Wayne endured for so many years.

For me to see him today, I can honestly say he is "Kenora man, a walking miracle". It is so gratifying to see how he has had the courage and strength to pull himself up from the distressing circumstances which controlled his life for so many years. All of the family members saw how he suffered, but it has only been recently that we have come to understand the reasons for his behaviour and actions.

In spite of the obstacles in his way to lead a normal life, he struggled and, for a lot of the time, he worked and supported his family. How he did this really have to wonder, considering all the medication and treatment he has had over the years. It was his own strength and belief in himself, which overcame the obstacles and made him determined to find a "better way". When he became "drug free", he was able to focus and understand what had happened to him for more than 25 years.

I know he suffered from depression, which I believe first started as a "grieving process" after the death of our youngest brother in 1966. Instead of being counseled and helped through this process the administration of medication and shock therapy began. Wayne has often remarked to me: "All I wanted to do was talk to someone." Wayne returned from hospitalization in Thunder Bay on many occasions, and immediately went back to work with no counseling or follow-up taking place. Counseling was recommended, but not put in place.

Wayne lives with chronic back pain which we believe could be the result of the lack of muscle relaxant during administration of shock therapy. To quote one doctor's remarks to Wayne: ³They probably did not give you enough muscle relaxant... Shock treatment kills billions of brain cells and breaks bones."

After reading another article of interest (Enterprise, July 20, 1997) relating to Dr. Peter Breggin's theory on shock treatment stating it is little more than an electrical lobotomy: "It's barbaric," said Dr. Breggin. We, Wayne Lax's family, strongly agree.

I have so much respect and love for my brother and support and wish him well in his mission to make people more aware of his story and the impact too much medication and shock therapy has had on himself and many others.

Sincerely,
Joyce Roller
Thunder Bay, Ontario

'Survivor' cites, incompetence

Dear Editor:

Jim Mosher's alarming story about psychiatric survivor and friend Wayne Lax ("Kenora man was 'high as a kite' cabbie", Jan. 25/98), once again shows us just how incompetent, negligent and uncaring all too many psychiatrists are.

First, the psychiatrists electroshocked and drugged the hell out of Wayne for more than 25 years. Then they threw him out and failed to protect him by not telling the ministry of transportation that their 'safe and effective' treatments had disabled him so much he couldn't immediately and safely drive a cab - until many years later when Wayne had been well and working for many years.

Considering the professional incompetence, abuse and suffering he was, forced to endure at the hands of several psychiatrists, Wayne Lax is damn lucky to be alive and working today.

This fact speaks volumes for his incredible strength and courage. It's not the Wayne Laxes of this world who are dangerous and whom we should fear, but the many psychiatrists who lock up and forcibly treat thousands of us against our will - for our 'own good' of course.

Wayne Lax deserves a lot of community support and respect - he knows he has mine.

Don Weitz
Toronto

Psychiatric survivor

Other stories on Wayne Lax:

Shock Treatment Survivor Continues To Speak Out
Comeback Story An Award-Winner
Shock Therapy Hindered Recovery
Man Leads Crusade to Reduce Impaired Driving
The Lost Years
Psychiatric Survivor Tackles Road Safety
Speak Out Against Shock (ECT)
Kenora Man Takes to World Stage - As 'Psychiatric Survivor'

next: Shock Therapy Hindered Recovery, Kenora Man Says