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

Surprise!

The highlight of Discover Summer is always a big road trip to Mackinaw Island that Children’s Services Managers Derica Scribner and Christine Morabito plan for clients.  This summer, they decided to surprise the kids with a trip to Niagara Falls, but kept the trip destination a big secret until it was time to hit the road.  Looks like this was one surprise worth the wait.  As one client put it, “This has been the best trip EVER!”  The Discover Summer program wrapped up Friday, August 17^th

A view of the falls taken by our Discover! Summer Team

A Job Well Done

Midland Administrative Assistant Kim Campbell needed an extra box Kleenex on her desk when she came into work on May 24^th.  That was her last official day of being a job mentor to Jordon, a 23-year-old student from Midland Public School’s Post-secondary Transition Program for students with special needs. 

Since September, Kim has worked closely with Jordan two mornings a week at Special Tree on developing skills to help her transition to a paying job in the community.  Jordan impressed Kim right away by how quickly she got her work routine down, which includes light clerical work like filing, faxing, and Xeroxing, “Jordan took her responsibilities at Special Tree very seriously and did an amazing job,” said Kim.  

More importantly, Kim saw tremendous growth in Jordan’s self-confidence as she learned to work independently and communicate with staff and clients more easily.  “Kim helped me a lot,” said Jordan.  Kim was especially thrilled when Jordan recently shared the good news that she was hired for a part-time position in a daycare.  “I’m so happy for her. It makes me feel like I did my job as a role model,” said Kim.  Jordan is the second student Kim has mentored from the program and she’s looking forward to working with a new student in the fall.  “It’s a good feeling to help these kids grow.”   

Kim and Jordon take a break from working on Jordon's last day

Christmas Morning

By: Jessica Bahny
NCC Activities Assistant

Can you believe it, another year has come and gone!  I can’t believe we are welcoming 2012.  That being said, I wanted to take a few minutes to share my wonderful holiday experience here at NCC.  So many times people ask me: “doesn’t it stink working holidays?”.  Nope!  I had a great Christmas holiday here at NCC with some of my favorite people- my wonderful clients and co-workers. 

The holiday spirit was definitely in the air when I walked in on Christmas morning.  The clients and I shared our usual coffee house time- this time with my “special” coffee (It’s just coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg, but the clients love it, and I try to make it for them on special days).  We laughed out loud as we read letters that children wrote to Santa.  You could feel the excitement in the air after coffee house when it was time for me to pass out the gifts.  Now, this is my favorite part of working the holiday.  I LOVE watching the clients’ eyes light up when they open their presents.  Everyone was talking and laughing at the same time.  It was total chaos, but the best kind!  Christmas at NCC is like Christmas anywhere else- it’s filled with laughter, hugs and some tears.  After they opened their gifts, the clients sat down to a fabulous meal.  The kitchen staff really outdid themselves!  There was honey baked ham, potatoes, rolls, and a beautiful dessert selection. 

I left work that day with an amazing feeling.  I was able to be a small part of giving the clients a memorable holiday.  To all of my coworkers who also shared the holiday with the clients- please know that we all had a hand in the festivities.  As I was heading out to celebrate the day with my family I realized this: I may have passed out gifts to the clients, but they gave me something that can’t be bought.  So many of them told me how much I matter to them, and how happy they were to celebrate the holiday with me.  That’s the greatest gift of all.  And believe me, the pleasure was all mine!  I hope everyone’s holiday was wonderful.  Even though the “busy” time is over, we won’t be slowing down in activities any time soon!   I’ll be back soon, keeping you in the loop of leisure!

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.

Thirteen Years and Counting!

Jessica Bahny

Activities Assistant, NCC

Last week, I celebrated my thirteenth anniversary with Special Tree.  When people find out that I’ve been here that long, they inevitably ask “How old were you when you started?!” When I tell them that I was only sixteen years old when I began working here, their first reaction is shock.  Then they find out that this is the ONLY place I’ve ever worked.  The reaction to that is usually utter amazement.  What can I say?  I love my job!  Looking back, it is sometimes hard to believe that thirteen years have come and gone since my first day on the job.  I remember being so excited to have my first job.  I began my journey in the kitchen, working as a Dietary Aide.  I absolutely loved it.  I loved being here so much , that I didn’t even mind hanging around for a few hours waiting for my mom's shift to end.  I passed the time by hanging out with the clients.  Do you have any idea where this story is going?  I loved working in the kitchen, but when the Activities Assistant transferred to work on the floor, I jumped at the chance to interview for the position.  I was offered the job, and the rest, as they say, is history.  I wish that I had the space to tell all of my stories!  So much of my history is intertwined with Special Tree.  I’ve worked here literally half my life.  The time that I’ve spent here has proven to be invaluable.  I know that my job is important.  I also know how blessed I am to have a job that I truly enjoy.  I really don’t even see this as a job- it’s a vocation.  It’s a wonderful feeling to know that something you do makes an impact on someone else’s life.  The greatest thing is, that it’s not only me making an impact.  Our clients have a huge impact on my life every day.  Each one leaves their own imprint on my heart.  I hope that they can see in my demeanor how much I respect them, and how much I’ve learned from them.  Here at Special Tree, I’ve laughed more times than I can tell you.  I’ve shed tears, too.  I’ve grown older, and definitely wiser!  I’ve worked with some amazing colleagues who have taught me so much.  The most important lesson I have learned is this: “You can spend your life bitter and angry over something terrible that happened to you, or, you can choose to live every day exactly as you are- being grateful for each day you are given.  Even on the worst days, try to give to others.  When you give love, you will receive it more than you can imagine.”  I learned that from one of my clients.  He said this to me once during a visit, and I’ve never forgotten it.  In fact, I live by it every day.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Special Tree for thirteen wonderful years.  Here’s to many more!

Beating the Winter Blues

By: Jessica Bahny
Activities Assistant, NCC

As everyone can tell, the weather recently has been less than wonderful.  Here at NCC, we don’t let that get us down!  We’ve been finding places to go and things to see to break us all out of the winter doldrums.  In the past couple of months, we’ve had some very successful outings to some local, yet under appreciated places.  My co-worker Kari, our leader, Amy, and myself have been putting our heads together planning at least one larger outing each month.  This allows our clients to get out in a group with both Kari and me.  This is something that’s proven to be great, because it allows our clients to experience that sense of camaraderie.  Plus, the more the merrier, right?!  Some of our most recent trips have been as close as Ann Arbor, and right “next door” in Belleville.  Kari and I took some of our clients to the University of Michigan museum of Natural History.  We saw some of Michigan’s signature critters, like bobcats, various species of wild birds, and even a wolverine!  We were able to read about the different dinosaurs, and other ancient people that may have inhabited our local area millions of years ago.  We also took two clients to the Matthai Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor.  What a treat!  Nothing breaks your case of winter blues like tropical trees and plants!  Imagine seeing a banana tree, cacao tree, and pineapple plant in the middle of winter!  Not to mention various flowering cactus plants and beautiful olive and fig trees.  We also went for a good dose of aviation history by visiting Yankee Air Museum right here in Belleville.  We learned that Willow Run Airport actually built the planes used for combat in WWII.  We were able to see several WWI, WWII, and Vietnam-era planes and helicopters.  Our clients Gardy, Brandon and Richard K. even had their picture made in the cockpit of a WWII jet!  The staff at Yankee Air museum were knowledgeable, friendly, and very accommodating.  They even invited us to the air show this summer, which we’re hoping to attend.  As I write this, Spring has sprung, and we hope the weather cooperates soon!  Next up- Tiger’s games, a trip to the Monroe Historical Museum, and of course the annual Spring Fling!  I’ll keep everyone posted on our travels and happenings- stay tuned!

Go Buckeyes!

Although she loves football, it’s not always easy being a fan. When most of us tune in on a Saturday to catch our favorite college team play, we usually gear up in green and white, or maze and blue. But Elizabeth, a client at Moravian West, stands out. She is a fan that proudly sports scarlet and gray. Born and raised in Ohio, she will proudly tell you she’s a Buckeye fan, and has been all her life.

Despite being such a die-hard fan, Elizabeth had never been to a game. Of course she wanted to and often spoke about it to Moravian West Residential Program Manager, Beth W. One of the impressive things about Special Tree’s residential staff is their passion for taking client’s interests to heart. This was the case when Beth surprised Elizabeth with tickets to the OSU vs. Penn State game. Just as impressive were the RSTs who traded in their Spartan gear for, gulp, the forbidden colors of the Buckeye to travel to Columbus, Ohio with Elizabeth for her first Ohio State football game.

It was an early morning and a long trip, but Elizabeth will enthusiastically tell you it was worth it. Walking into Ohio Stadium was a dream come true. Dressed in her OSU best, she cheered on her team to a victory of 38 to 14 against Penn State. A victory that she’s still smiling about.

Now when Elizabeth tunes in to watch the Buckeyes play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, she’ll watch the game from a different perspective. She can now tell her fellow viewers that she’s stood among thousands of screaming fans as the Buckeyes stormed the field and personally felt the excitement of a victory. Go Buckeyes!

Client Celebrates Hard-Won Achievement

On May 28, 2010, NCC Outpatient Case Manager Beth Smith listened to a message from her client Donna G. that made her smile from ear-to-ear. "Hey Beth, I passed my GED!" Although Donna’s message was brief, the call was three years in the making.

Donna first expressed interest in getting her GED to Beth back in 2007, when she came to Special Tree to continue her rehabilitation from a brain injury she experienced in 2001. It was an ambitious goal for Donna who was still in recovery and who was learning the independent living skills needed to transition from Special Tree’s residential program to a supported living apartment at Church Street. But Beth saw the look of a determined woman and decided that her treatment team would rally behind Donna getting her GED. "I’ve seen people do miraculous things just because they had the motivation and desire," said Beth.

It was a team effort to get the right supports in place to help Donna accomplish her goal. Donna, who dropped out of high school in the 10th grade, needed academic, financial, and especially emotional support to get through the challenging coursework. Beth met regularly with Donna to provide social work support and even found herself cracking open old text books to help Donna in writing, math, social studies, and science. The staff at Church Street, especially Crystal Arquette, also provided needed supports when Donna transitioned there in 2008.

But Donna’s motivation to study was sporadic as she struggled with personal setbacks and low self-confidence. "I had a hard time believing in myself," she said. "At the time, I still focused on what I couldn’t do, but Beth and others kept my confidence up and said I could do this."

"I pushed her to the end of her rope," said Beth jokingly. "Whenever Donna presented a stumbling block, I had to think of a way to remove it. I didn’t want her to fail." When Donna struggled with math, Beth found an outpatient client who volunteered to be Donna’s math tutor. When she’d get frustrated and lose focus, Beth and Donna worked on stress management and relaxation strategies. "Beth was perfect for me," said Donna. "She pushed me and encouraged me to keep going."

Donna’s motivation finally kicked into high gear in January after successfully overcoming some personal struggles that resulted in finding a winning combination of medical interventions and supports. With continued help from her treatment team, Donna started to make remarkable progress. "She really impressed everyone with her focus and determination," said Crystal.

When Donna received the news that she passed her GED, she says her self-confidence, "went through the roof! Earning my GED has given me a sense of accomplishment that no one can take away."

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."

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.