2008 Woodie Awards
1 Percent of the US Population is Diagnosed with Schizophrenia
Michelle DeMartino
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Healthcare
Mistaken for peer verbal and physical ridicule, my brother's voices and hallucinations remained undiagnosed for three years.
As travel ice hockey player, he was always exposed to joy and excitement. Hockey was and is his passion. When he wasn't playing, watching, researching ice hockey, or attending ice hockey-related events, his invitations to hang out with friends were constant.
During middle school, players wanted to be him, friends wanted to see him, girls would try to befriend me to get close to him - his aura was special. As I quietly walked the halls, I'd see my brother and wonder why I couldn't be like him. I was only a year and a half older, yet we were on such different levels, socially.
Freshman year of high school began on the right foot, as he was elected captain, by his teammates, of our high school's ice hockey team.
However, my brother rejected the title and quit ice hockey altogether. It was a shock, not only for me and my family, but for the coaches and players.
Claiming that his teammates were belittling him, even physically hurting him, my brother couldn't continue. He pleaded with my parents not to expose his insecurities.
Skeptical at first, my parents encouraged him to continue, ignore the derogatory statements, and take his aggression out on the ice. He was too good not to play. But he refused and they relaxed accordingly.
Throughout his high school career, my brother's schedule remained exact. He would take the bus to school, attend class, and catch the bus home. Once home, he would sit in the same spot on the couch and watch hockey until he eventually fell asleep, only getting up for meals and other necessities. By the end of freshman year, my brother gained a significant amount of weight and lost all his friends. Not one of his so-called friends from his so-called jock clique checked up on him.
This behavior just kept taking turns for the worse. I'll never forget during lunch of my senior year, I saw him pacing back and forth in the hallway. People began to notice his unusual behavior, yet didn't understand his change.
As travel ice hockey player, he was always exposed to joy and excitement. Hockey was and is his passion. When he wasn't playing, watching, researching ice hockey, or attending ice hockey-related events, his invitations to hang out with friends were constant.
During middle school, players wanted to be him, friends wanted to see him, girls would try to befriend me to get close to him - his aura was special. As I quietly walked the halls, I'd see my brother and wonder why I couldn't be like him. I was only a year and a half older, yet we were on such different levels, socially.
Freshman year of high school began on the right foot, as he was elected captain, by his teammates, of our high school's ice hockey team.
However, my brother rejected the title and quit ice hockey altogether. It was a shock, not only for me and my family, but for the coaches and players.
Claiming that his teammates were belittling him, even physically hurting him, my brother couldn't continue. He pleaded with my parents not to expose his insecurities.
Skeptical at first, my parents encouraged him to continue, ignore the derogatory statements, and take his aggression out on the ice. He was too good not to play. But he refused and they relaxed accordingly.
Throughout his high school career, my brother's schedule remained exact. He would take the bus to school, attend class, and catch the bus home. Once home, he would sit in the same spot on the couch and watch hockey until he eventually fell asleep, only getting up for meals and other necessities. By the end of freshman year, my brother gained a significant amount of weight and lost all his friends. Not one of his so-called friends from his so-called jock clique checked up on him.
This behavior just kept taking turns for the worse. I'll never forget during lunch of my senior year, I saw him pacing back and forth in the hallway. People began to notice his unusual behavior, yet didn't understand his change.
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