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Michael F., is someone whose life was changed dramatically
after an assault. He came to Northeast Center for Special
Care after a second event. Here is Michael’s story in his
own words:
I was born in Westerly Rhode Island and then lived in
Mystic, Connecticut. I’ve been in New York for eighteen
years. I worked in construction for a long time. My brother
is a carpenter so I did a lot of shingling houses. I also
worked as a mason, a landscaper and I worked in a lot of
restaurants.
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Michael F., with members of his Treatment
Team: L to R Cindy Pope, Nurse Manager, Erin Kramer, LMSW,
Social Worker, Maryann Stokes, LPN. |
I got my brain injury one night in a bar.
Someone hit me in the head with a baseball bat and that almost killed me. I went to the hospital and they did
surgery on my head and put a plate in my head. I forget how
long I was in the hospital but I was in a coma for three
weeks.
After the hospital I ended up going back to the same town.
Something else happened and I ended up getting a subdural
hematoma. I went to the hospital again and from there I came
to Northeast Center.
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Michael F., excited about returning to the community to
live. |
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I went to groups here. I was in self-advocacy and I
learned that I have to speak up for myself. I also had counseling. I
worked in
the café (a pre-vocational volunteer program), which I liked a lot. I got OT when I was here.
Maryann Stokes (an LPN at Northeast Center for Special Care) helped me. She’s very nice.
I was approved for the TBI Waiver. It took a long time.
Candy is my Service Coordinator. She is going to take me to
my apartment when I am discharged in May (of 2005). I am
going to live in an apartment in a new area. I’m excited;
it’s like a new beginning. I’m scared too.
Maryann Stokes noted:
I’ve
been there for Mike. When he’s had issues or
problems he has been able to come and open up and he
became more vocal and assertive. We worked to show
Mike that the more he became responsible for his own
care, the sooner he would be ready to be discharged to
the community and because of that he became more
involved in that. He also began attending groups and
we were able to transition him to the most independent
unit before he was discharged.”
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Cindy Pope
added:
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big change for Mike was working in the Café through
our pre-vocational program. He took a lot of pride in
his volunteer job and that meant a lot to him. He was
always on time for work. With encouragement he became
more personable and open. He smiled a lot more |
All of
Michael’s Team members know he will do well.
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Michael F., with Maryann Stokes, LPN. |
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Northeast
Center for Special Care
QUICK FACTS:
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- OT:
Occupational Therapy or Therapist
- TBI
Waiver Program: New York State Department of
Health Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver for
Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury
- Subdural
Hematoma: a collection of blood on the surface of the
brain. It lies beneath the outer covering (the dura) of
the brain and the brain's surface.
Usually the result of a head injury.
- Service
Coordinator: An individual who coordinates services for
program participant in the New York State Department of
Health Home and Community Based Services Medicaid waiver
for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Pre-vocational
Program: A program at Northeast Center for Special
Care that helps participants relearn and practice basic
work skills.
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