Parents Give Up Custody to Get Help for Mentally Ill Daughter - How to Help Mentally Ill Children
Written by Spencer Hunt and Debra Jasper
Page 4 of 4
Lauren Mathews is bi-polar and sufers from hyperglycemia, diabetes and coronary disease as a result of medication, bad eating habits and smoking. Last week, after years of trying, her family finally got help for her. These pictures tell part of her story. |
The foot of the basement steps is Lauren's favorite "chillin'" spot. For her medical problems, Lauren has taken 16 medications in the past four years and has been hospitalized eight times. |
Lauren Mathews is bi-polar and suffers from other complications, including hypoglycemia and coronary disease as a result of her medication, eating habits and smoking. Here, she is framed by a hospital bed rail. She was hospitalized for four days to treat the diabetes. |
Dietician Ivy Sheehan directs Lauren toward nutritional foods. |
Lauren waits impatiently for her discharge from Children's Hospital Medical Center. She had her belongings packed hours in advance. |
Accompanied by her mother, Lauren leaves Children's Hospital. |
Lauren and her mom, Christy, talk about eating as Lauren spoons up a bowl of beef stew. |
Lauren eats a bowl of beef stew as her grandmother, Shirley, plays with Lauren's sister Morgan in the background. |
Illuminated only by the glow from her lighter, Lauren lights up in her "chillin' spot." |
Lauren attends the Hamilton County Special School. Her attendance has been inconsistent due to health reason, and she has failed to earn any high school credit in the past two semesters. |
Lauren attends Hamilton County Special School, but her illnesses have made attendance inconsistant. Last week, she moved into a psychiatric facility in College Hill, where she will get more in-depth attention. |
Lauren reads and interacts with Norwood Head Start students. |
Photos by Michael E. Keating
Source: The Enquirer
next: The Role of Caregivers for People with Mental Illness
reviewed by:
Harry Croft, MD (Psychiatrist)
Medical Director, HealthyPlace.com
Created on November 10, 2008
Last Updated on July 06, 2011
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