Tuesday was a school day, unlike any other.  I had made the teacher and E.A.s aware of the night before.  It was an uneventful day at school.  The first hour home after school was also uneventful, until something went wrong with the computer.  The outburst came in a matter of seconds.  Things went flying, the TV was caught just in time, the bookcase was toppled onto the dog and then the violence was directed at his brother.  A good shove sent him flying into the wall were there is yet another hole.  Then he whacked him over the head with something.  OUT COLD!!  When brother came to, Michael was missing.  He had fled and was calling 911 to report that his brother wasn’t breathing.  Cops, ambulance and fire trcks again.  The officer that responded was one that is very aware of Michael’s condition and thought the best place for him was the hospital.  Taken to the nearest hospital that has a crisis unit, he was formed by the doctor in emerg and we spoke with the crisis worker for almost two hours.  It was her opinion and that of the doctor that Michael should stay and be assessed for 72 hours.  He needs meds that work and control the mood swings.  After 4 hours, the police were told that they could leave.  Within 5 minutes, we were informed that the staff had called the psychiatrist at home and were told to unform him and send him home.  WHAT A SHOCK!!

We were afraid to take him home.  Two days in a row, violent outbursts.  What could we expect next?  The staff at the hospital seemed to be genuinely concerned, but the doctor at home, who never spoke to Michael or the family, what did he care?  One patient less to look after?

Unfortunately, Tuberous Sclerosis is not a mental disease, so should it or shouldn’t it be treated with the help of a psychiatrist?  Are the behavior problems and violent outbursts not part of a mental health issue?

I thought that when a person is formed and is a danger to themselves and to others and cannot be resposible for themselves or their actions would never be unformed.  And we had the bruises and cuts and goose eggs to prove his violence… and all the attending staff saw…