In October, the Oprah Winfrey show came to Santa Clarita to interview the Schofields, a Santa Clarita family with a 7 year old daughter who has severe schizophrenia. Today Oprah will air interviews and footage from the family’s homes.
You might remember the Schofields from other media reports. Last year the LA Times wrote a big story about them, explaining that the girl, January (or Jani for short) had such a bad case of schizophrenia that the father and mother moved into separate apartments in order to keep Jani from possibly hurting her brother:
Michael and Susan Schofield know all too well how mental illness can affect a child’s life. Their 7-year-old daughter, Jani, has been diagnosed with one of the most severe cases of childhood schizophrenia Jani’s doctors say they’ve ever seen.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, schizophrenia is a chronic, disabling brain disorder that may cause a person to hear voices and misinterpret reality. In some cases, schizophrenic patients believe people are plotting to harm them, which causes extreme agitation or depression.
Jani may be younger than most people with schizophrenia, but she battles the same demons. In her case, hallucinations take the form of imaginary children and animals. There’s a little girl named 24 Hours, a rat named Wednesday, and a cat named 400 who tells her to do bad things.
Everytime I read about the Schofields I’m amazed. So much love and suffering in that family and yet they still make it work, despite the challenges. Life is unfair but they carry on. They’re an inspiration to me.
I forgot to set my DVR so if you can, watch and record it and let us know about their time on Oprah today!
A person of any age with schizophrenia suffers greatly. Our society does not understand biologically based brain disorders and the result is fear and frequently mistreatment by both the medical field and society as a whole. More money for research is needed to find a cure and/or better meds for people. My heart goes out to this little girl and her family.
I’ll do my best to record and post my impression of this unfortunate families time and sharing on the Oprah show.
Jeff,
The Oprah segment today focused mostly on Jani, Susan & Matt, and the parents dedication to save their children.
It also touched on the depression each of parents have gone through indvidually and as a couple.
The anger S. had againt M. for trying to take his life (why he felt so helpless to help his child) and then the understanding and forgivness.
M’s.realization about leaving S. to be a sole survivor for the children before he completed his attempt to kill himself.
It was his shift with Jani so he walked off the overdose on his own still caring for Jani.
Oprah tried to interview Jani to no avail.
Then it let us know what it is like for Jani when the voices take over by not keeping her focused. Very, VERY painfull to watch.
The doctor at UCLA saying this is one of worst cases of childhood schizophrenia he has seen in 20 years of practice.
As for me personally, it left me searching for knowledge to care Jani and to help these parents have some time together. It kinda made me feel helpless because it would take much trainning and trust.
It is not about me but I would sure like to know how the community could help this family!
My heart breaks…
Annette
Thanks for the review Annette. Very sad and sobering.