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Growing up in a large, Irish-Catholic family was an experience, to say the least, made that much more interesting given that she and her siblings were in their teen's and twenties during the 60's and 70's.
Ilene is a self-taught writer. Her common phrase is, "I am a technical writer by trade and a creative writer by desire". Ilene writes on a wide variety of subject matters that include family, politics, women's issues, health care, mental health care and anything that "gets her Irish up".
Ilene describes herself as a "born-again" Atheist. She doesn't have anything against people who believe in God or who follow the teachings of Jesus, Mohammad, Baha'u'llah, Confucius, Buddha, or whatever religious prophet and teachings that people follow. All she asks is that people accept that she can have good morals and values (yes that is very subjective) and not believe in God. Her mother used to say that the world would be a better place if people just followed the last 7 commandments.
Ilene was tremendously affected by the long-illness and early death of her twin brother, Paul. Paul was diagnosed with schizophrenia when they were only 16. He spent one year in a private hospital until the maximum lifetime limit was met on their health insurance policy. He was committed to a state mental institution at the tender age of 17 and spent the next 22 years between three different state hospitals. When the final push to release the patients into the community was made in the 1990's, Paul was moved to an "assisted" living apartment complex. When that proved too much for him, he was moved to an adult home. Paul's life during that time was like a nightmarish roller coaster ride from adult home to the local psych wards to the state hospital and back again, only to have the ride start all over again. He finally got off the ride when his emphysema was so bad that he was accepted into a nursing home in 2007. He was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months later and died on May 1, 2008.
While Ilene is not busy writing advocacy articles about mental health related issues, she is writing a book about her brother. She submits articles to any and all publications like this in the hopes that she gets discovered and someone pays her to write what's on her mind.
OpEd News Member for 808 week(s) and 2 day(s)
6 Articles, 3 Quick Links, 61 Comments, 6 Diaries, 0 Polls
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Public Diaries |
Personal Diaries |
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6 Diaries
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
What is NOT in Health Care Reform For Me SHARE
The "landmark health care legislation" just passed is only the beginning of the reform that is needed. It also leaves out one large group of people who have no voice. They are people who are homeless and in prison due to there severe mental illness.
(1 comments)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Wear Your Bathing Suit Through Security The Next Time You Fly SHARE
Why I will take a stand against the full-body scanners and why a pat-down is also not an option for me.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
It's Only Called Unpatriotic When You Try to Understand Foreign Terrorists SHARE
Why was I called unpatriotic when I tried to understand why 19 men committed acts of terrorism on 9/11, but it's OK to try to understand why one man committed domestic terrorism?
Friday, December 4, 2009
Ambush SHARE
Untreated Mental Illness can cause violence. Both the Washington and Ft. Hood shooters are proof.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Woman Skewers Herself With Carving Fork (Satire) SHARE
Ever do something really stupid? Here is how I imagined the headline would read if there really was a carving fork in my dishwasher when I tripped over it the other night.
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