Jackie Pufundt is Director of Development at Advocate Children's Hospital. This is the story of her daughter’s mental health journey in her own words.
After working in health care for nearly two decades, I naively assumed I was prepared for many things parenting would bring my way. Yet nothing quite prepares you for the moment when you find yourself needing the very services you are tasked with raising money for, especially when those services are for your own child.
Our daughter, Ellie, started displaying signs of anxiety at the tender age of 5. While typical childhood setbacks might prompt tears followed by a quick recovery in other children, Ellie would spiral into deep distress. Compounded by the challenges of COVID, we initially attributed much of her behavior to the lack of social interaction with her peers. As the world returned to normal, however, Ellie’s anxiety only grew.
As parents, we are equipped to handle common childhood ailments like cuts, sore throats or fevers. However, confronting anxiety at this age was uncharted territory for us. Despite well-meaning advice from others suggesting Ellie would outgrow it, we recognized the depth of her struggles. In both my and my husband’s upbringing, discussions about anxiety were scarce, and the stigma surrounding mental health was palpable. If we didn’t talk about it, it wasn’t happening. Looking back, I struggled with anxiety for years and didn’t get the proper help until I was well into my 30s. My husband and I knew our daughter needed – and deserved – more.
There was a night when Ellie was really struggling and told us she didn’t like her life anymore. At that point, Ellie's anxiety had taken a firm grip on her life. Simple activities like riding in a car, being separated from us or attending school filled her with fear, transforming once-joyful experiences into daunting challenges. That pivotal moment broke us, and we reached out to the behavioral health team at Advocate Children’s Hospital the next day.
In June 2021, we were introduced to a psychiatrist at Advocate Children’s Hospital, Dr. Malcolm Vandrevala, whom we affectionately call Dr. V. After a few visits, Dr. V diagnosed Ellie with generalized anxiety disorder and began working with us on a plan to equip Ellie, and us, with the tools needed to face her anxiety. Ellie’s treatment plan included medication and cognitive behavior therapy, or CBT, with a licensed therapist. Gradually, we began to witness Ellie's smile reemerge. She eagerly looked forward to school, embraced new experiences without fear and rediscovered the joy of living life to the fullest.
Fast forward nearly three years, and Ellie continues her regular sessions with Dr. V. and her therapist. With time, Ellie has not only acquired additional coping mechanisms but has also emerged as a fierce advocate, both for herself and those in similar situations. She bravely speaks out about her experiences with anxiety, unknowingly defeating the stigma earlier generations were faced with and encouraging discussions around mental health in terms her peers can relate to. In fact, she didn’t hesitate when we asked her if we could share her story, knowing it could help other kids like her.
Now 8 years old, Ellie is wise beyond her years and continues to remind those around her what it means to be empathetic. She serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ensuring every child has access to behavioral health services. While there are still challenging days, the guidance of Dr. V. and the Advocate Children’s Hospital team has shown us that there is indeed hope and light ahead.
Drawing from our own journey, we are proud to support the growing behavioral health care program at Advocate Children’s Hospital. The statistics speak volumes: since 2020, there has been a thirty percent surge in pediatric mental health visits to Advocate Children's Hospital emergency departments alone and more than seventy percent of children ages 8 to 18 report anxiety impacts their daily life. The need for increased behavioral health services for children and adolescents cannot be ignored.
Together, we must and can do more. Our children deserve it.
To help ensure children like Ellie have access to behavioral health services, please make a gift today.