Trauma Services: Aubrey's Story
meet Aubrey’s Family
Jen peered into the bedroom of her 15-year-old daughter Aubrey. Curled up in a ball, Aubrey was recovering from an epileptic seizure. This was not an unusual scene. Aubrey had experienced countless seizures and surgeries to alleviate her condition since she was a little girl. But what Jen noticed this time was that her episodes were getting more intense and more frequent.
These weren’t the only changes going on in Aubrey’s life. Aubrey’s grandmother, who moved in years ago to help care for Aubrey and her now 10-year-old twin brothers after their parents’ divorce, recently passed away. After the funeral, Aubrey grew more irritable with each day and would struggle to fall asleep at night. Between her daughter’s emotional outbursts and debilitating health scares, Jen felt helpless as to what to do next as a parent.
She reached out to Aubrey’s medical doctor for solutions. The doctor reviewed Aubrey’s case and found that in addition to her epilepsy, she was also experiencing psychogenic seizures (seizures set off by psychological factors), which were likely onset by the combined traumas from previous medical procedures and the loss of her grandmother. Jen and Aubrey looked at each other- a shared feeling of despair flooded through them at the news of yet another diagnosis. Just when it felt like all hope was lost, the doctor reassured them that a solution was possible. He referred the family to Savio.
Psychotherapy was a whole new world for Aubrey. Although she was highly emotionally intelligent, verbally communicating those feelings had always been a challenge. Her therapist addressed this need straightaway. With the help of her therapist, Aubrey was able to express everything she was holding inside. Her frustrations with being unable to do everyday tasks due to the possibility of having a seizure came to light.
Watching her peers getting their learner’s permits for driving, playing sports, or exploring hobbies like cooking…she had been grieving so much beyond managing physical pain. After being validated by her therapist, the rest of her family support system was invited to learn more about how to best help Aubrey while she moves forward. At home, near the end of Aubrey’s treatment program, Jen spotted her daughter journaling on the couch – only to then be surprised with a loving tackle from her younger brothers. While watching her three kids laughing together, a huge sense of peace came over Jen. Aubrey’s medical struggles will not go away overnight, but now she and her family have coping tools that will help them along the way.