When Grace Kohn鈥檚 daughter Julianne started struggling with severe and increasing anxiety, Kohn didn鈥檛 know what to do.
Julianne is autistic, which means she experiences much of life without a filter: she sees, feels and hears everything at full blast, making periods of anxiety or stress much tougher for her than for most people.
Worried for her daughter, Kohn asked Julianne鈥檚 doctor to prescribe her anti-anxiety medication.
Julianne started taking the medication, but it didn鈥檛 seem to help. For weeks, as she became increasingly agitated, Kohn and Julianne鈥檚 doctors tried bumping up her dose. But it wasn鈥檛 working; Julianne became more manic every day.
鈥淪he got to the point where she was just beside herself. She was banging, twitching, moving constantly, couldn鈥檛 sleep. [She] was manic,鈥� Kohn recalled.
Kohn did her best to care for Julianne, but with almost no sleep, she eventually reached her limit, and Nov. 16 took her daughter to the only place she could think of: the hospital.
鈥淚 reached my max, where I had to step out and go 鈥榶ou know what? Now I need help, because I can鈥檛. I鈥檓 falling apart.鈥�
鈥淚 basically came into the hospital Saturday and said 鈥極K, my hands are in the air. I need help, I can鈥檛 do this anymore,鈥欌�� Kohn said.
Hospital staff graciously allowed Julianne to stay for a few days, and after consulting autism experts, they discovered her medication was aggravating her anxiety rather than helping it.
Julianne stopped taking it immediately, and has since then been going through what Kohn calls a 鈥渞ecalibration period鈥� as the drugs leave her system.
It鈥檚 a difficult time for Julianne, who needs someone with her at all times. That could have been problematic, but Kohn said she鈥檚 been overwhelmed by 鈥渁ll the wonderful people in this town who rallied together to help.鈥�
She said folks volunteered their time to stay with Julianne to allow Kohn some rest. As Julianne continues to recover, Kohn said she鈥檚 been surrounded by a support network of incredible people helping keep the situation bearable.
Kohn especially appreciates the 鈥渇antastic鈥� support she received from Jasper鈥檚 doctors and nurses.
She said hospital staff worked incredibly hard to help Julianne: staying on the phone for hours, allowing Julianne to rest at the hospital and generally going far beyond what was required of them.
The past month has renewed Kohn鈥檚 drive to bring a group home to Jasper, which she believes the town is in dire need of.
She pointed out there are a number of developmentally delayed people living in Jasper, many of whom already do or will soon need a permanent and safe place to stay.
A group home would not only provide a safe and comfortable environment for those people, it would give parents and caregivers a respite to bring their children to when they need help with their child鈥檚 care.
She and several community members have put together three proposals鈥攗nder the name the Jewel House Project鈥擪ohn hopes will get the process started.
Aside from a few informal meetings, Kohn hasn鈥檛 pursued the project too far yet. Her recent experience, however, has renewed her drive.
Brenda Hill is a self-employed aid who works with developmentally delayed individuals. She also thinks Jasper is in desperate need of a group home.
She echoed Kohn鈥檚 arguments that there is a significant population of developmentally delayed individuals in town who would see a huge benefit from that environment.
鈥淓verybody needs a place they can go to where they feel comfortable,鈥� she said.
For Hill the problem extends beyond individual cases. She pointed out that caring for people with developmental delays is a complicated issue involving multiple levels of government and a lot of money. She is adamant, however, that a group home is something Jasper desperately needs.
Peter Waterworth, the town鈥檚 chief administrative officer, said he鈥檚 had some 鈥渧ery interesting discussions鈥� with Kohn, but the municipality has no concrete plans for any such projects right now.
He noted that bringing a group home, as well as all the support structures to go with it, to Jasper would be a difficult and expensive task. But the municipality is ready to hear any proposals.
鈥淲e are very open to discussion, but it鈥檚 in very early stages,鈥� he said of Kohn鈥檚 Jewel House Project.
Kohn acknowledges bringing a group home to Jasper would be expensive, but hopes the community will see the need and get behind the project.
Trevor Nichols
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