Letter from Jill’s Parents

OPI Living Success StoryDear Dr. Fischer and Emily,

I am writing this letter to thank you and your team for the great work you are doing with Jill.  She came home this weekend for the first time in six months.

As you can imagine, I was unbelievably anxious about her visit because we almost “lost her” during her last suicide attempt here.  I didn’t believe there was any way she could possibly be ready for a trip home.  I was terrified.

Emily did a great job reassuring me that Jill could come home and that our visit could be successful, and she was right.  Jill is so improved.  She told us she has never felt better in her entire life and the glow is back in her eyes and sweet face.  She looks great.  We feel hopeful for the first time in years.

I was worried about her moving to Phase two, but she told me what it would be like and she was so excited about it and has really worked hard to get better.

Some of the best moments we had with Jill were watching her think in the “gray.”  When she left she started to tear up saying goodbye to her dog, who is getting old.  I told her not to worry or cry because he is fine. Jill said, “Mom, it’s OK to cry a little and then I’ll be fine.  I don’t want to bottle up my tears or I’ll feel worse.”

A couple of times we triggered her, accidentally, including her father’s comments about the calories for Mexican lunch which he said we burned off on our walk. Jill said, “Dad, don’t talk about calories while I’m eating and enjoying my food, it’s triggering to me.”  And when we took a walk and she mentioned someday living in California, I immediately jumped to the unbelievably high cost of living there and that it would be hard to get a house and a job and then… she stopped me right there and said “I’m not there yet, Mom, let’s not talk about that now.”  She was assertive, but not cruel and blaming, which she was before her stay at OPI.

We can’t thank you enough for taking a really hard (and honestly sometimes we worried impossible) case and turning her around.  I believe you have saved her life and we just want you to know how immeasurably grateful we are for all your hard work.  We look forward to seeing even more improvement in Jill.  We know the process will be long, and often rocky, but it has begun, and we still have our wonderful Jill because of you.  The work you do is the most important of all, because if you can save Jill, she will impact everyone she touches with her magic.  Thanks for helping Jill see she has magic to offer the world and still much living left to do.

Sincerely,
Jill’s Parents

Names have been changed to protect our participant’s privacy.