With Gratitude: Patient Stories

At just twelve years old, Lucas was overwhelmed by fear. His hands were cracked and bleeding from compulsive washing—five pumps of soap, again and again—trying to scrub away the anxiety that had taken hold. Diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Lucas was terrified of bees, of being poisoned, of simply being outside.

At just eight years old, Izzy had already faced more challenges than many children her age. Diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and a mood disorder, she first came to Bradley Hospital’s Pediatric Partial Hospital Program at age five. With the support of her care team, Izzy made real progress—but her journey was far from over.

Ten-year-old Nathan felt like he was constantly getting it wrong. His jokes didn’t land the way he intended, and classmates didn’t understand him. School wasn’t a place where Nathan felt like he fit in; it was a place where he felt alone.

 “Nathan just wasn’t happy,” Nathan’s mother, Amanda, recalls. “It wasn’t just school—it was everything. He felt different, and he didn’t know why. And the more he struggled, the more it seemed like nothing was working.”

Thirteen-year-old Paul Doyle’s world had shrunk to the size of his bedroom, where his battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) kept him isolated from the people and activities he loved. For months, he avoided any contact, gripped by overwhelming fears of germs, meat, and dairy. His parents, Tom and Bonnie, felt helpless watching their son struggle.