RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — Ladi March Goldwire beams with pride when talking about her son, Donel Elam. She describes him as an exceptional individual with a beautiful mind and heart, and a smile that lights up the room. Donel was once a star on the high school football field, with a promising future ahead. However, everything changed in 2014 when he was diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder. Since then, Elam and Goldwire have faced numerous challenges, including his inability to hold a job and experiencing periods of homelessness.
Recently, Goldwire was gripped with fear when she heard about a man being shot at Suncoast High School, worrying it might have been her son. Fortunately, it was another individual named Delroy Thomas, who, like Elam, also suffers from mental health issues.
Despite their struggles, both Elam and Thomas, as adults, have the right to refuse hospitalization even when family members are desperate to help. Mental health therapist Ezsa Allen acknowledges the growing epidemic of such cases, emphasizing the need for more support and solutions for individuals struggling with mental health issues. Goldwire, while feeling deflated at times, refuses to lose hope, highlighting the importance of finding a way forward in challenging situations.
Vocabulary List:
- Beams (verb): Smiles broadly and happily.
- Exceptional (adjective): Unusually excellent or superior.
- Promising (adjective): Likely to develop positively or succeed in the future.
- Diagnosed (verb): Identified as having a particular illness or condition.
- Challenges (noun): Difficulties or obstacles that need to be overcome.
- Hospitalization (noun): The act of being placed in a hospital for medical treatment.
