Olympic Fever

The spirit of the Olympics brought together clients and staff from Special Tree's Day Treatment Services, Residential, and NeuroCare Center for an afternoon of games and fun at Special Tree’s Olympic Carnival on August 10^th.    The NCC South parking lot was a swirl of colorful flags and creative team uniforms as clients competed for medals and prizes for their country’s team.  Congratulations to Moravian West, a.k.a. Team Canada, who brought home the Gold;  Tyler’s 1 & 2 won the Silver for Team China; and the Bronze went to Trevino who represented France.  Many thanks to Angie Folkwein, Residential Best Practices Coordinator, and Neal Dregansky, DTS Manager, for organizing the event. 



A shot of the coveted Special Tree Olympic Medals

A Winning Day for Dennis

Client Dennis L. and RST Haleem Goode enjoyed a Tiger’s game at Comerica Park on April 22nd compliments of Buckfire & Buckfire P.C. Attorneys at Law in Southfield. Dennis's Tiger tickets were part of a contest give-away that the firm sponsored for persons with TBI and SCI. To enter the contest, individuals with a TBI or SCI had to be nominated by a caregiver or someone involved in their rehabilitation. When Troy Recreational Therapist Shannon Zalobsky heard about the contest she immediately nominated Dennis. “He’s a BIG Tiger’s fan, but it’s not always possible for him to catch a game each season,” she said. “He was so thrilled to win and had an amazing time at the game!”

Knock, Knock... It's the Holidays!

By: Tonya Bryant, CBIS
Residential Manager
Webster Court

This year the staff at Webster Court wanted to do something fun with our clients to get them in the holiday spirit.  We decided to have a Holiday door decorating contest.  All week long we have encouraged any visitors at Webster Court to take a walk through and vote for the most creative and festive door. Tom had a box of Godiva chocolates set outside his door to share with all of those who stopped by to vote.  This afternoon we tallied up our votes and we have our winners.  In first place we have Tom, known at Webster Court as “The Mayor.”  He won a $20 gift certificate to Fanatic U. In second place we have Shanay, who a $10 gift certificate to Dots.  In third place we have Bill who took home a $5 gift certificate to Fanatic U.  Staff also decorated the office door to join in on the fun.  Everyone enjoyed this contest and we plan to make a holiday tradition at Webster Court.

Tom, "The Mayor" who's festive door was awarded 1st place

Shanay's door adorned in red and green and got her the number 2 spot 

Humble, yet festive Bill was awarded 3rd in the contest

Happy Holidays!

A Glass Act

By Rebecca Potter, MS, LLP, CBIS, BCBA 

Special Tree Psychologist

On June 9th the Women’s Therapy Support group of Troy headed out to explore a day of yore at Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Ladies: Violet L. of Moravian, Laura M. of Beverly Hills and Dusanka E. and Lisa G. of Trevino arrived via four wheeled coach to be greeted by their tour guides, Staff member Rebecca Potter, Limited Licensed Psychologist and psychology student Leigh Jouppi.

After entering through the gates the ladies were greeted by the whistle blow of the old steam engine awaiting her boarding passengers at the Firestone Train Station. Rounding the first corner past the Soybean Lab Agricultural Gallery the ladies were pleasantly surprised by that old familiar “aaaoooogggaaa” sound of the passing Model T Ford.

First on the agenda was a glass pulling class at the Glass Shop. The ovens were fired up and ready to go as the instructor suited each lady up for safety. Each lady was suited up in safety goggles, protective arm sheaths, an apron, and gloves. First up was Lady Violet. The instructor explained the process of how each lady would participate in the actual pulling of the glass, the uniqueness of the colors of the glass before and after being exposed to the high heat produced in the ovens, and the need for the pulled glass to be tempered for 24 hours to cool slowly so it would not break.

Violet suited up and ready to pull some glass

Laura was so excited to see Violet pulling her glass flower that she stood up to get a better view, while Dusanka assisted the instructor in pulling the glass with the glass tweezers.

Dusanka and the instructor pull the glass with tweezers

Lady Lisa used the glass paddle to flatten the glass in preparation of pulling. Lady Laura used the tweezers to pull her straight tail flower into shape. Laura was unique in that she was the only lady to choose a straight tail on her flower.

Lisa flattens her glass in preparation of pulling

After the glass pulling activity the ladies dined on Michigan sourced foods available at the Michigan Café. Three of the ladies chose the pulled pork sandwich while one feasted on the Michigan cherry salad and soup. All ladies received a Henry Ford/Greenfield Village commemorative cup. After lunch the ladies and guides set out to explore the village. Just past the homes of Robert Frost and Noah Webster the ladies stopped for a short break at the Cotswold Cottage. Rounding out the trip across from the Wright Brother’s Home and Cycle Shop the ladies learned about millinery (hat making) at the Cohen Millinery and catsup at the Heinz House.

After a fun filled 6 hours the ladies boarded their 4 wheeled coach and headed back into the present day. Approximately 1 week after the trip the ladies each received their flowers as they had completed the curing process.

Wayne County Festival of Lights

By Jessica Bahny

Activities Team

NeuroCare Center              

It’s that time of year again! Nothing welcomes the season like some great holiday lights! Each year we plan to take our clients to the Wayne County Festival of Lights at Hines Park, and the past few years, it seems as though the floods have kept us out! That hasn’t been the case this year. Each Thursday night this month, we are planning outings to see the lights. On the 2nd, my coworker Kari took Clay G., and Gardy B. to the festival. They both enjoyed it. Last Thursday, I took Brian O’K and Gaylor F. What a blast it was! We bundled up, cranked up the holiday tunes, sang at the top of our lungs, and beheld the greatest spectacle of lights since Chevy Chase lit up his house in “National Lampoon’s”! We saw a spinning dreidel, Santa playing basketball with his elves, and the newest exhibit- some really colorful dinosaurs. The clients were so excited, and I think we all felt like kids again. I left NCC that night feeling very fulfilled, and grateful to bring a little holiday cheer. I’m still smiling thinking about it!

Together, At Last

Client with amnesia reunites with mother after 40 years
One morning last January, client David P., age 65, woke up in his room at Parkway Residence and said a word he’d been trying to remember for the past 40 years, "Yemassee!"

Yemassee was where he and his mother, Annie Mae, lived in South Carolina when he left home at age 17, and eventually served in the Korean War. A brain injury in the war wiped away the name of his hometown along with most of his memories from the past. He would spend the next 40 years trying to recall any information that would help him to find his mother.

David came to Special Tree in 2008 to recover from a second brain injury he experienced from a cycling accident. "I’m looking for my family," was all he could say during his first few months of treatment at NCC. A few months later, he transitioned to Parkway and joined the men’s residential peer group in the fall of 2009. That’s where he met NCC Social Worker Leslie Booker, the group’s facilitator, and asked if she would help him find his mother. She agreed, and in January their search began.

After David recalled where his mother lived, he and Leslie were able to do a Google search that turned up two Annie Maes in Yemassee, South Carolina. Leslie helped David to compose a letter but David was "nervous and scared," he said, that his mother would still be alive to read it. "I just prayed that I’d get to see her one last time."

But just days after sending the letter, David received a phone call that he will never forget. "Mom, is that you?" he said. David’s mother was still alive at age 90.

"I’ve been asking the Lord for 40 years to let me know if he was alive or dead!" said Annie Mae. She had also spent years actively looking for her son and had even hired a private detective.

David was reunited with his mother in Yemassee on April 4, 2010. Parkway Program Manager Jessica Frye and a member of her staff traveled with David for a 3-day trip where he visited with family, including his two siblings, from sun up to sun down. "He was exhausted, but so happy!" said Jessica. "The family couldn’t say enough about how grateful they were to Special Tree."

Beverly Hills and Greenbriar Clients: Reporting from South Carolina!

As told to Angie Folkwein
Residential Best Practices
Program Coordinator

Clients and staff from our Beverly Hills Community Residence (clients Laura, "Mr. Benny", and Dennis and staff Michelle-APL, Mary-RST, and Kim-RPM) and from the Greenbriar Community Residence (clients Stanley, Ilene, Joanna, and Mike and staff Pat- RST, Conswaylo-RST, and Tequella-RPM) hit the road this week for a trip to South Carolina. Here is the update on their trip!

We are staying staying in a huge 1457 square foot condo in Myrtle Beach. The balcony alone is 178 square feet. We are here until September 2. The condo is within walking distance of the beach; it includes 2 indoor pools, 1 outdoor pool, a lazy river, and is absolutely beautiful. We all went to the beach Monday. Laura asked to take her shoes off to be able to feel the sand in between her toes, something she has not done in many, many years. Mike loved spending some time in the water and lying on the beach. Dennis and Ilene asked to lay in the sand and enjoyed every minute of it.

We also cruised the strip yesterday and enjoyed the little souvenir shops and the beautiful sights. Monday night our whole group had a nice dinner at the Sticky Finger Smoke House. The workers there were so nice and catered to our every need. After dinner, we watched a beautiful fireworks show, it was amazing! Tuesday we enjoyed a late lunch at the River Café and were heading to Ripley’s Believe It or Not for some evening entertainment.

We are really missing Linda who is spending time at the Trevino Residence while we are gone. We hear that all of the clients and staff have really enjoyed her company and don’t ever want her to leave! Shout out to Linda, we can't wait to tell you all about our travels when we get back. We heard you went shopping and had a super time.

Finding Inspiration

By Dawn Vezzetti, CBIS
Residential Program Manager
Trevino Residence

After being a Residential Program Manager for 7 years now, I am amazed at the inspiration that comes my way each day I come to work. This inspiration comes from many different sources. The clients; how can you not be inspired by someone who has had their whole life turned upside down yet finds the will to move forward in their recovery – they make me laugh, they make me cry and they remind me how precious life truly is since at any moment unbeknownst to me, I could be them. My staff; they are an extension of my leadership and they have made me proud to say I work at Trevino. My colleagues throughout the company, what can I say they’re the best. Each of them brings a unique talent to the table. My leader; he gives me the latitude to get my job done effectively and expects the best from me. He also keeps us thinking of new ways to improve our clients' quality of life each and every day. Special Tree as a company; they keep things moving forward by looking to new innovations in helping people with TBI and focusing intensely on world class service and results. And I can’t forget the Richert family since we are ultimately a family business at the end of the day. Their story alone inspires me to give my very best to them and our clients. I’m proud to say I work at Special Tree.