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Born Schizophrenic: A Mother's Search for Her Family's Sanity
Every family has their own struggles. For the Schofields, it is getting their children mental health care. In Michael Schofield’s book "January First," we followed their journey as their daughter’s mental illness worsened until she was diagnosed with schizophrenia at six. When "January First" ended, they were living in two apartments and their life was reasonably stable.
"Born A Mother’s Search for Her Family’s Sanity" is a semi-sequel to that story.
"January First" focused on the family’s realization that Jani was mentally ill and getting her the help she needed. "Born Schizophrenic" starts with Susan and Michael meeting each other and follows them from their marriage through divorce, up to both of them being happily engaged to other people, but it is all viewed through the lens of their children's struggles.
"January First" describes Jani's early struggles.
"Born Schizophrenic" picks up where that lets off and follows Bodhi's struggles with mental illness and getting the diagnosis and medication he needs. Bodhi is diagnosed with autism at two. In a twist of fate, Bodhi is now attacking the teachers and aides in his autism preschool while Jani improves enough to return to a special needs classroom in a regular school. It was a crushing blow because he was supposed to be Jani’s savior when their parents were no longer around and now Jani is helping Bodhi.
Even worse, Susan and Michael disagree about Bodhi’s condition. Susan believes he is on the path toward schizophrenia and wants to stop it as soon as possible, while Michael believes he is severely autistic. Because Bodhi has an autism diagnosis, he receives benefits (therapies) Jani was never offered. It’s great when his medication is working, but when it isn’t, all the behaviors come back. By the time he’s six, he’s been hospitalized nearly as often as Jani but he isn’t improving the way she did after she received Clozaril, a medication that is never tried on Bodhi.
As Susan and Michael continue to clash over their children’s care, their marriage reaches a breaking point. Michael has an affair, then another, until they are forced to admit their marriage is over. Even then, they stay together while false allegations of child abuse, neglect, even rape, bringing the CPS and the Police banging on their door in the middle of the night. When Michael and his ex-girlfriend rekindle their relationship, divorce is inevitable. Susan must now conquer her greatest raising two special needs kids, alone. Once she is confident in her new role, her true love finally walks into her life.
"Born A Mother’s Search for Her Family’s Sanity" is a semi-sequel to that story.
"January First" focused on the family’s realization that Jani was mentally ill and getting her the help she needed. "Born Schizophrenic" starts with Susan and Michael meeting each other and follows them from their marriage through divorce, up to both of them being happily engaged to other people, but it is all viewed through the lens of their children's struggles.
"January First" describes Jani's early struggles.
"Born Schizophrenic" picks up where that lets off and follows Bodhi's struggles with mental illness and getting the diagnosis and medication he needs. Bodhi is diagnosed with autism at two. In a twist of fate, Bodhi is now attacking the teachers and aides in his autism preschool while Jani improves enough to return to a special needs classroom in a regular school. It was a crushing blow because he was supposed to be Jani’s savior when their parents were no longer around and now Jani is helping Bodhi.
Even worse, Susan and Michael disagree about Bodhi’s condition. Susan believes he is on the path toward schizophrenia and wants to stop it as soon as possible, while Michael believes he is severely autistic. Because Bodhi has an autism diagnosis, he receives benefits (therapies) Jani was never offered. It’s great when his medication is working, but when it isn’t, all the behaviors come back. By the time he’s six, he’s been hospitalized nearly as often as Jani but he isn’t improving the way she did after she received Clozaril, a medication that is never tried on Bodhi.
As Susan and Michael continue to clash over their children’s care, their marriage reaches a breaking point. Michael has an affair, then another, until they are forced to admit their marriage is over. Even then, they stay together while false allegations of child abuse, neglect, even rape, bringing the CPS and the Police banging on their door in the middle of the night. When Michael and his ex-girlfriend rekindle their relationship, divorce is inevitable. Susan must now conquer her greatest raising two special needs kids, alone. Once she is confident in her new role, her true love finally walks into her life.
- GenresNonfiction
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2017
17 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
won-t-even-start-it
August 31, 2019Nope, nope, nope. Gosh. Things are seldom what they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream...
October 27, 2018
I am honestly surprised that those children haven’t been taken away. That woman would rather potent medication take over the role of parent to her children. Her response to a tantrum is to shove medicine down their throats. She pathologises perfectly normal childhood behaviour such as having an imagination, having imaginary friends,playing with toy cars and making them talk, having tantrums, throwing food on the floor, etc. Yes her children might be more misbehaved than other children (or were until they were turned into zombies with all the drugs she gives them) but she never disciplines them. When Bodhi refuses to go to sleep, opens the fridge and throws eggs on the floor her reaction is not to tell him off and send him to bed, her reaction is to think “this is mental illness” and cook him a large meal in the middle of the night. Also she used to give the boy a pink doughnut everyday for breakfast as well as a whole load of other junk food for both of the children. I’m surprised neither of them have diabetes.
Those two children have been taking cocktails of potent medications from a young age at very high dosages and this woman is constantly pushing for more and stronger medication and higher dosages. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if one of those children end up dying in their sleep.
Not only that, she let her new husband get very involved in her life very quickly. When you have children you should exercise caution around new people, especially when you have two disabled children. Susan on the other hand let Cory help her with an official letter about her children within less than an hour of meeting him.
Those two children have been taking cocktails of potent medications from a young age at very high dosages and this woman is constantly pushing for more and stronger medication and higher dosages. It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if one of those children end up dying in their sleep.
Not only that, she let her new husband get very involved in her life very quickly. When you have children you should exercise caution around new people, especially when you have two disabled children. Susan on the other hand let Cory help her with an official letter about her children within less than an hour of meeting him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2018
What a hot mess.
October 20, 2020
Just wanted to read it to see how crazy she is .. iam glad the kids are taken away from her now
February 19, 2018
The Schofield family amazed and impressed me with their story in January First, so when I heard there was another book, of course I had to read it. Although this book wasn't as polished as the first one, it was every bit as intriguing. Whereas the first book primarily focused on Jani, this one concentrated on Bodhi.
This family has gone through a lot and I applaud them for sharing their story. As someone who has suffered mental illness for most of her life, I know how scary and isolating it can be. I've also known through my own and my family's experiences with mental illness and other disorders, that getting the word out and educating others makes a difference. Letting others know about what you have endured helps them to avoid some of the same mistakes and find ways to make their lives better much faster and easier.
Jani is a truly special girl. She may have schizophrenia, but she has tremendous intelligence and insight that helps her, her family, and others. She and her family are inspiring.
This family has gone through a lot and I applaud them for sharing their story. As someone who has suffered mental illness for most of her life, I know how scary and isolating it can be. I've also known through my own and my family's experiences with mental illness and other disorders, that getting the word out and educating others makes a difference. Letting others know about what you have endured helps them to avoid some of the same mistakes and find ways to make their lives better much faster and easier.
Jani is a truly special girl. She may have schizophrenia, but she has tremendous intelligence and insight that helps her, her family, and others. She and her family are inspiring.
December 30, 2018
A great read!!! After reading January First this was a great book to see the other side of the conversation on these beautiful children and how the progressed since January First by Michael Schofield. In the first book it paints Susan as a distant parent, but in this one it shows all Susan has done in the face of Michael's issues while trying to get their children where they can function in our world. This family is not perfect, nor is any, but this book brings hope to those living through struggles. I HIGHLY recommend this book especially if you have read January First.
May 6, 2018
Amazing mother
I read Michael Schofields book when I saw the docu on tv and I’ve followed Jani and her parents. I’m so happy to read Susan’s book now and see what she went through. These parents truly loved each other and the kids but they went through so much. Susan is amazing and her kids are the best they could ever be thanks to her. I look forward to hearing how the kids have grown up in the future.
I read Michael Schofields book when I saw the docu on tv and I’ve followed Jani and her parents. I’m so happy to read Susan’s book now and see what she went through. These parents truly loved each other and the kids but they went through so much. Susan is amazing and her kids are the best they could ever be thanks to her. I look forward to hearing how the kids have grown up in the future.
December 3, 2021
This lady is a piece of work!!
January 10, 2021
Have you ever read a book and, halfway through, you wished you could return it bc the author doesn’t deserve your money? Well this was that book for me.
This almost seems as if Jodi saw that her ex-husband made money off composing a memoir, so she decided to jump on the bandwagon. I went from reading a well planned, well written story (January First) that made me curious about the family, to this elementary level abomination. The grammar was dismal, the plot line was more like a plot squiggle/circle/spiral with missing components, and I STRUGGLED to complete it. If Jodi was attempting to sway her audience to support her side of the story, she would have been better off remaining mum.
This almost seems as if Jodi saw that her ex-husband made money off composing a memoir, so she decided to jump on the bandwagon. I went from reading a well planned, well written story (January First) that made me curious about the family, to this elementary level abomination. The grammar was dismal, the plot line was more like a plot squiggle/circle/spiral with missing components, and I STRUGGLED to complete it. If Jodi was attempting to sway her audience to support her side of the story, she would have been better off remaining mum.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews