Emily and I had the pleasure to present our recovery stories during this week’s McLean Hospital Crafting Support Project 2023 Family Webinars. 

With the help of 22 Power Point slides and photos from my childhood, Gould Farm, work and more I shared my experience with mental illness from 14 years old to the present. Highlights included a tribute to my parents who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and a picture of Emily and me hiking up to Zealand Falls in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (see slides below).

Emily talked about her mom’s tough love, forcing her into Payne Whitney Hospital’s psychiatric ward. Her mom had to literally peel Emily’s fingers from the doorway and coerce her into a cab, saying she wasn’t going to let her back into the house.

Emily talked about how hard it was for her when I was too depressed to get up in the morning, and how support from her family helped her stay in our relationship. We both said how proud we were of each other: Emily citing my determination to succeed in a fast paced, cutting-edge research laboratory and I her bravery in the face of cancer diagnoses.

Several friends, including my childhood friend Marvin with whom I’d lost touch with for 25 years attended the webinar. Dr. Patterson, our psychiatrist of 25 years, called to congratulate us minutes after the webinar ended. It was immensely gratifying that these people who have had a big influence in my life were there to support me.