Michael's Sweet Success

Upon arrival, Michael was spending nearly every hour of every day in his bed due to an overwhelming fear and difficulty tolerating being around others. Living with schizophrenia, Michael's world had become increasingly small and isolated– engaging in even the smallest everyday tasks felt impossible to him, and the idea of walking or being part of a greater community again seemed far out of reach.

With consistent support, patience, and a person-centered approach from his care team, Michael underwent a powerful transformation. Ashika, Michael's Occupational Therapist, played a pivotal role in building trust with Michael. She started with something small yet meaningful– listening. By taking the time to learn about Michael's interests and preferences, she discovered that he deeply missed one small comfort from his life in the community: iced coffee. One morning, Ashika went above and beyond her duties and surprised Michael with a cup of his favorite iced coffee. Her small act of kindness helped to form a bridge of trust that allowed therapy to truly begin.

Through collaboration amongst the interdisciplinary care team, and Ashika's consistent encouragement, Michael began participating in therapy sessions. Gradually, he moved from sitting up in bed to standing, then walking short distances with supervision and support. Today, Michael proudly walks with a mobility aid with supervision throughout his community. Michael's confidence is growing, and he is now working with Physical Therapy to begin to walk independently again.

Michael's story reminds us that with the right support, healing is always possible!