Liz

Liz came to Hopewell in early 2017 after being treated at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder. At Mayo, she was treated with Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), which is commonly used in patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments. Liz’s mother discovered Hopewell while researching online and found the therapeutic farm aspect appealing.

During the first six months, Liz was able to slow down and learn self-care. She said, “I allowed myself to get used to having bipolar and come to terms with it. I needed to let my body recover from the ECT treatments. Hopewell helped me to heal my mind and my body.”

As the year progressed, the routine of the farm brought back the work ethic she grew up with. Liz said, “I loved to wake up and have something to do, whether it be in the garden or on the farm. My favorite was working in the art studio and experiencing my creative side. Hopewell helped connect me to nature and art and made a huge impact in my life.”

Becoming friends with residents and staff at Hopewell changed Liz in so many ways. She said, “I learned people have different struggles and allowed me to discover more about handling other relationships. Hopewell opened my mind.”

After leaving Hopewell, Liz received her business administration degree at the University of Oregon and then returned to her hometown of Chicago to work as an admissions coordinator at an orthopedic rehabilitation facility. Liz said, “Hopewell gave me the day-to-day tools to integrate back into society and provided me with the skills I needed to live independently.”

Liz is happy her mother found Hopewell. “It was so amazing living in that scenic environment. Hopewell is a huge part of who I have become, and I am thankful for it.”