Dad Named Me Robert: Let's Talk About Mental Illness

by Joan LaFuze, Bernice Pescosolido (Foreword)

AMAZON #1 NEW RELEASE AND #1 BESTSELLERMany people in modern society are diagnosed with mental illness. My family experienced it firsthand. Through this book, I want to share our family’s journey with our remarkable son and brother who truly taught us the most important lessons of life.The professional people who have held us in their hands and hearts are dedicated to those of us who are personally affected by these brain-based disorders that the world calls mental illnesses. My goal is to draw attention to the fact that these dedicated professionals are bound in a web spun by a spider that traps them in a system that is fragmented and seems to make no sense.In the past, people with mental illnesses were “housed” in asylums world-wide. More recently in this country, state hospitals served that role until the emergence of antipsychotic medications and other forms of treatment permitted people with such diagnoses to come into the mainstream of our society. Robert and our family were on the leading edge of that transition.I hope this story will benefit others who are walking a similar path in caring for a loved one

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2020

Reviews

[Tonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, to walk on the shoes of someone else and understand more fully their unique challenges and gifts. Dr. Lafuze has written the amazing and heartbreaking story of her son, who from birth overcame many challenges and thrived despite them. His adulthood brought still more struggles that would force his parents to continually seek answers for their son and his mental health. As someone who was befriended by a young Robert and who remembers him fondly, his story and his mother’s touched my heart. Joan brings into the light the stigmas associated with mental health, and the extreme protections against those stigmas that often meant the healthcare system could not and/or would not be able to fully address and provide proper and perhaps reformative care for her son. Her personal and unique experience as Robert’s mother and caregiver along with her extensive medical education give insight into what is good about our mental health system, what has improved and progressed in recent decades, but also sheds a beacon of light on what still needs to be done to provide for some of our most vulnerable. She especially brings to the forefront how differently our medical system addresses and treats those with a physical ailment versus those with a mental diagnoses and how things might change if society and medical specialists would identify brain-based illnesses instead of utilising the terms behavioral and mental illness, placing the focus on the physical causes and physical treatments that might incite a change in the stigma as well as the ability to receive and benefit from treatment.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Joan Lafuze has written an informative book about mental illness. But more importantly, she gives hope for anyone to succeed no matter what the obstacles.

I wanted to read Robert’s story for many reasons, I had the privilege of working for his father, Ralph Lafuze, for 12 years. In that time, I met Robert, Joan and a few other family members. I knew their family life was extremely busy, but I had no idea of the measures needed on Robert’s behalf. Ralph was such a calm and quiet person. He did not share a lot of personal information.

I saw and met Robert several times before an office Christmas party hosted by the Lafuze family sometime around 2001. Robert and I sat side by side and he chatted about several different things. He had a sense of humor and smiled most of the time. These are the things I remember most about Robert, always having a smile on his face, ipods around his neck and earphones in!

The strength, dedication and love of this family are amazing. The success of the Lafuze family in all they choose to undertake is unbelievable. I have learned what true compassion and determination are.

[Rena Holcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, Brave and Inspirind

This mother’s sharing of the reality of a wonderful son and his journey in life with mental illness is a must read! Having known the family from the fringes, I have always been inspired by the family’s faith and their honesty; as the mother of an Autistic son, Joan’s sharing moves me to further appreciation of their honesty. Thank you for sharing Robert’s story.

[Janet Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book on mental illness and the family.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for sharing your story and for the wonderful care your family provided to your son.

[Joyce Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compassion and wisdom

What a painful yet beautiful journey of a family who faced fully the gift of loving and being loved by someone with a brain illness. Having personally known them all, they have shown me in this book God’s abundant grace in Human form.
Thank you Joan, Robert, Ralph and all

Bob Coleman