Melancholy of Suffering

Melancholy of Suffering

It’s easy to get lost in the melancholy of the suffering of Derya and the rest of the family. I’m sure that many of you – infact all of us have experienced something that would draw us down into a depression if we continued to allow it.  Some have developed coping skills that help navigate these times better than others. For many, however, this isn’t very easy.

Our son Deniz is a case in point.  Over the years he has had a front row seat at a seemingly never ending nightmare.  He has heard the yells, the struggles of Samime and myself to help Derya. Deniz saw her at the Hospital, trapped and abused as they “experimented” with their “superior” knowledge of what she had.  

He saw firsthand the damage they had caused, the way their “experiments” had set her back.  How does a young woman go from capable of driving herself, cleared to go back to Amherst College Student who was able to navigate from Columbus Circle to Penn Station – and yet, within a couple of hours of doing all this she becomes someone who needs to be locked up in a psychiatric ward?  Derya didn’t have madness, the system does!

Unfairness and Injustice

He saw the unfairness of the world shoved in his face and he lives with it everyday.  Compounding the problem for Deniz has his own disability. He struggles everyday to understand the world he lives in, how to interact with it and what other people are trying to tell him.  And yet, throughout it all he misses his big sister.

For years, he understood that she would be there for him.  That she would always be on his side. They watched television, went places, had special brother/sister moments together; gotten in trouble together and had each other’s back.  And now what. Those memories are faded and replaced with the young woman struggling – fighting to get herself back. It hasn’t been a happy time for anyone.

And yet he keeps moving forward.  

Moving Forward

Locally he was celebrated in the paper for his success of holding two jobs while attending school.  The local volunteer group (PassItAlong.org) did a video showcasing his success within their program.  How much he has matured and grown. We should be overjoyed – and we are very proud of him.

Yet the one person he wanted to be proud of him, his sister, is unable to celebrate with him, revel in his joy.  Why? Because of a few narcissistic monsters parading themselves as doctors – demeaning their profession; responsible for a stain on the pledge of Hippocrates.   I have no kind words for these people, and fewer for those people and organizations which harbor these monsters.  

Why should I, you may ask.  But why should THEY, why should ANYONE is the question you should ask.  

God Bless Deniz, the hero of this story

You can read more about his article here: NJ HERALD (OCTOBER 22, 2018)

ABOUT US!

James Baldini blogs about his daughter’s care and the tragedy that has surrounded the entire family of Derya Demirtas.  Derya has had Autoimmune Encephalitis for nearly four years now.  The young advancing, brave and stalwart young woman Derya Demirtas, has suffered much throughout that time.  As has her family and friends.  In someway we hope to see a change within the medical community so that it may better adapt to this disease and prevent future generations of victims.

You can read more from James Baldini @  www.JamesBaldini.com

#FreeDerya #JamesBaldini