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Golisano Children's Hospital
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E-mail this storyA mother petitions Golisano Children's Hospital for inpatient psychiatric beds
After losing her daughter, Debi Hobbs is working to increase the quality and accessibility to mental health care for children in the Syracuse area.
She wanted to be like Michael Myers.
Debi Hobbs woke up in the middle of the night fearing something was wrong. She found her daughter, Amaya Stethers, in the closet with a knife. Amaya, who had been diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder and Autism, later told her mother that she wanted to be like famed movie killer.
“I don’t know at what point the brain got separated from the body and that’s not an organ that can get sick.”
-Karen Winters Schwartz
-Karen Winters Schwartz
Even after this episode, Hobbs waited two months, trying everything else in her power, before seeking an inpatient facility for her daughter. When she could, Hobbs avoided the inpatient facilities available around Syracuse.
Stethers, 14, died in inpatient care at Hutchings Psychiatric Center on June 1, 2017. Hobbs is now petitioning Golisano Children’s Hospital for the inpatient beds that she believes could have saved her daughter’s life.
Amaya suffered from constipation as well as hallucinations that forced her into occasional hospitalization. When Amaya was at Golisano being treated for constipation, she was in a wing that was open to parents. It was bright and geared toward recovery. It was a social atmosphere with toys and game systems available.
“When you go to Golisano,” Hobbs said, “it doesn’t feel like ‘This is it, this is all, this is the end.’”
But Golisano’s facilities don’t have an inpatient psychiatric wing for children. Rather than being consistently treated at her preferred hospital, Stethers was only afforded short stints.
When Four Winds Hospital closed in 2004, the Syracuse community lost 64 youth beds for psychiatric care. This closure forced families in need to travel as far as Buffalo and Saratoga for inpatient care, according to a task force organized by U.S. Rep. John Katko in 2015 to look at the needs for children with mental illness in Syracuse.The task force also said New York State is meeting just 44 percent of the need for health care providers.
Karen Winters Schwartz, president of National Alliance on Mental Illness Syracuse, served on the task force. NAMI and Family Tapestry were vocal in asking for beds for children with serious mental illness as Golisano hospital was being built, Schwartz said. Their requests were met with promises but no action.
“My understanding: they wanted their beds for the sick children,” Schwartz said. “I don’t know at what point the brain got separated from the body and that’s not an organ that can get sick.”
The issues came to a head with Stethers. While Hutchings had access to her psychological records, they didn’t have access to her medical records. Despite Hobbs’ warnings about Stether’s constipation, the 14-year-old still had a bowel obstruction at Hutchings that left her unresponsive. She had to be resuscitated three times.
“When I saw Amaya on the gurney at Upstate when she coded three times,” Hobbs said, “she looked to be nine months pregnant.”
Hobbs believes this wouldn’t have happened at Golisano. At Golisano, Hobbs said, the proper professionals with the proper equipment could have intervened and saved Amaya’s life.
Hobbs says she’s not bitter toward any service or center. She said she knows good people with good intentions work at all of these places but that the current system is flawed and confusing for parents of sick children.
“If that can happen to me, that can happen to anyone,” said Hobbs.
According to the National Institute for Mental Health, just over 21 percent of children ages 13 to 18 either currently or at some point in their lives have a seriously debilitating mental disorder.
“In Syracuse,” Judy Ridgway, a former NAMI president and current board member, said, “I think that we are rich in services, but they’re not fully organized.”
Hobbs and Schwartz echo the concern over the lack of a central information point for parents. Hobbs sees the current system as reactive—waiting for children to have issues rather than attempting preventative care. She said that parents have to study all the information they can, especially before talking to their children’s doctors.
“If you don’t go in and you don’t use the same terminology or psychiatric terminology that they’re using,” Hobbs said, “they’re dismissing you.”
Hobbs says she sees no hospital accountability or transparency. Centers like Hutchings don’t allow parents to even see where their children sleep. This leads to parents like Hobbs avoiding using these inpatient services.
“Because, once your kid goes in,” Hobbs said, “I’m sorry, your hands are tied in a lot of ways.”
While Schwartz, Ridgway, and Hobbs all praise Golisano’s capabilities, they all point out that it has a glaring blind spot when it comes to children with mental illness. Hobbs said the addition of inpatient beds at Golisano can help empower parents and provide better outcomes for their children.
“God forbid there’s another Amaya,” she said. “God forbid there’s another Amaya.”
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Amaya Strong
It is distressing that just because your in a psychatric hospital or in a general hospital that they cannot treat a whole patient. I am certain that if you have MD or RN after your name you should be able to assess a whole patient. Your speciality is where your expertise is supposed to be. People are treated like parts and one MD does not communicate with the other. Where children are concerned this is especially urgent because children are not always able to articulate what his wrong. The powers of observation and communication are imperative. Parents should not be placed in a position where they have to travel for miles to get the care they need. The health care system gets more overwhelmed , understaffed and underfunded. This was a case of total negligence and non communication and a lovely innocent child and her family are paying the consequences.
Psychiatric Beds
There is a shortage of phychiatric beds throughout the country. Funding is low. So sorry for your loss. This is so sad.
*Amaya Strong*
I signed this petition because I stand behind Deb 100%. As a parent with a child that has mental illness we need an inpatient facility that is local. My love and prayers go to Deb and the family.
*Amaya Strong*
I signed this petition because I stand behind Deb 100%. As a parent with a child that has mental illness we need an inpatient facility that is local. My love and prayers go to Deb and the family.
This is ridiculous!! We have
This is ridiculous!! We have to help our kids!!!
Petition
I am signing this petition in memory of Amaya and in hopes of helping children in the future...this.is.so.needed
In Syracuse..
Petition
I am signing this petition in memory of Amaya and in hopes of helping children in the future...this.is.so.needed
In Syracuse..
Children need to be watched &
Children need to be watched & treated as children . Having an area at Upstate is essential.
Support for more beds for psychiatric patients
Please support this petition. This is extremely important to our community.
With the recent closing of two facilities in Syracuse ( Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services Day Treatment Facility and The Outpatient Clinic) the need for more hospital beds for minors is necessary.
#Amayastrong
There is such a need for pediatric mental health services in the Syracuse area. This never should have happened to Amaya or any child. I fully support this petition.
I will support this for
I will support this for justice for my niece and my sister..... Not a day goes by that I miss Amaya Joy..... I miss my nieces beautiful smile and how she made you feel better know matter how bad you felt... JUSTICE FOR AMAYA JOY STETHERS... I would love to see other children have a chance...
I will support this for
I will support this for justice for my niece and my sister..... Not a day goes by that I miss Amaya Joy..... I miss my nieces beautiful smile and how she made you feel better know matter how bad you felt... JUSTICE FOR AMAYA JOY STETHERS... I would love to see other children have a chance...
I will support this for
I will support this for justice for my niece and my sister..... Not a day goes by that I miss Amaya Joy..... I miss my nieces beautiful smile and how she made you feel better know matter how bad you felt... JUSTICE FOR AMAYA JOY STETHERS... I would love to see other children have a chance...
Thank you Sheila. The goal
Thank you Sheila. The goal is to prevent similar losses!
Amaya
I sign this petition in support of Amaya. Our children are our future and we should support and love them with all the resources we can. The loss my niece Debi Sue suffered was senseless and avoidable.
FOR AMAYA
I have had iaaues a daughter of mine from 3 ( now 21) and Chidrens Hospital ia a shoer stay till bes open and more is needed for longer care... Sry for loss of Child and so young,
Thanks Barb #amayastrong
Thanks Barb #amayastrong
Devoted Mom #amayastrong
I worked with Debbi Hobbs some years ago and I know personally what a loving, caring, and strong advocate she was for Amaya and still is for other mothers with similar circumstances. Her devotion to her daughter Amaya and all children with mental health goes above and beyond the duty of motherhood. Keep up the good fight Debbi. #AMAYASTRONG
#Amaya Strong
I stand behind this petition and sign it on behalf of Amaya and ALL children and youth whom are deserving of the best care possible.
#amayastrong
I was not only Amaya teacher she was also my best friends we had so much fun laughing and being silly she always had a shine and a sweet loving personality she was always excited about somethin she did at home or telling me wht she wants to b when she grows up. Amaya has taught me so much I know thts hard for anyone to believe trust me she taught me things I didn't kno and we had this unbreakable bond tht was gonna last forever. Her mom Debi is the best ever she made sure Amaya had everything she needs and is continuing it now so that no other parent goes thru wht she is goin thru I am supporting this cause all the way until there is a resolution.#justiceforamaya
Amen.
Amen.
#AmayaStrong
I love Amaya she would light up any room and she had the biggest heart. I love her mother Debi Who has done everything in her power to Bring Amaya some justice for what happened.
Amaya Stethers
I love Amaya. She was a bright light in this dark world. I pray that this petition succeeds. Please help other children and families from going through what Amaya and her family has gone through.
#AMAYASTRONG
I support this cause FULLY! We need to address this head-on and prevent another tragedy such as losing another child.
#AmayaStrong
#AmayaStrong
Amaya Stethers
I sign this petition in the for Amaya Stethers and all children that come after her that need help and need it NOW!
i wish Mrs Hobbs all the
i wish Mrs Hobbs all the success and love and blessings in the world. No child should day in this matter and no parent should have to bury there child due to a flae in the system
Thank you ❤️
Thank you ❤️
For Amaya
I sign this petition for Amaya stethers & all of those children who are in need. I would have wanted it for my 2 little boy's. Anything that would help .
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