Four-thirty in the morning
listening to the radio.
They’re talking about crises.
‘Bout how a crisis
can lead to
opportunity.

The greatest crisis
in my life
was when my son
was struck down by
schizophrenia
at the tender age of
twenty-one.

At first I couldn’t
believe it.
My son could not
be suffering from a
devasting brain
disorder
when his adult life had
just begun.

Other people’s children
were more likely
than mine
to suffer a disability.
I was an excellent
mother.
My children were not
mistreated or
neglected.

Schizophrenia
provided me with
opportunity
for sorrow,
guilt, anger;
all the way down
the scale of
human emotion.

After awhile
I began reaching out to
mothers, fathers
daughters, sons
friends
with loved ones
who had
schizophrenia.

I discovered an
opportunity
for empathy,
humility
and
unconditional
love.