Final Week

Ian lived a long life well into his 80s. He continued to be well-respected in the community and contributed in many ways up until his death at age 83.

Week 9

Ian is 52 years of age. He and Molly have weathered many storms together, and her recent fight with breast cancer was no exception. She is now in remission after a double mastectomy, and the doctors are confident that they removed all of the cancer before it spread. Molly was out of work for roughly a year, and she and Ian had some help during that time from their grown children.

Ian has continued to teach. He and Molly have continued to be well-respected in the school system and are some of the longest-employed in the school district. They feel like they have a new outlook on life after Molly's illness, and they spend much of their free time together. Ian still teaches some at the community college, and enrollment in his classes continues to be steady.

Ian has thought about retirement but isn't sure the two could do it. The two have talked about traveling now that the children are grown, but they aren't sure. The recent economic challenges have taken their toll with Molly having to take a pay cut when she returned to work after her illness.

* What challenges do couples face when one becomes ill? Cite statistics to indicate the percentage of couples who stay together, who separate, etc. How many generally say their relationship is strengthened because of the experience of overcoming an illness?

* Ian and Molly have been employed by a public school system for several years. What kind of retirement  plan are they likely to have, and how much money might be available to them assuming they were able to match the school system's contribution to their retirement account each month?

* Describe the typical developmental milestones for middle adulthood.

Week 8

Ian is now 33 years of age. After attending college partly on scholarship and partly with loans, he has just finished paying off his college debt. He married his high school sweetheart, Molly, and the two now have 3 children. Ian teaches at a local high school, and he teaches one class a week at a local community college. He is able to get around through public transportation, the assistance of a close group of friends, and Molly.  Molly works also as a speech pathologist for the same school district in which Ian works, and the two are known by all as wonderful professionals in their respective fields.

Ian credits much of his life path to the resilience he built and drew upon after the accident. He often talks about how it has taught him lessons and "made him the person he is today." Even though he sometimes wishes he could run in the backyard with his kids, he continues to find ways to make meaning of his life and his past.

Ian sees his older brother from time to time - Tyler never fully recovered from his injury and still struggles with activities of daily living. Tyler has developed a quirky sense of humor, however, and he loves coming to the house to see his nieces and nephew. Ian keeps in touch with his mother who visits with Tyler, and the two talk several times throughout the week.

* What is the time period for early adulthood? What are the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional changes that typically take place during this period? What specific aspects of early adulthood must Ian pay attention to since he is wheelchair-bound? Is he more susceptible to certain kinds of difficulties during this period, or is he not any more or less susceptible than anyone else?

* How does contemporary psychology define "resilience?" How does this apply to Ian? What is positive psychology? To what do you attribute Ian's current sense of thriving in life and his resilience?   

Week 7

Ian is 19 years old and is in his senior year of high school. He is an individual who is seen as having overcome so much, and he is well-liked by his peers. Academically, he is at the top of his class - in fact, if all goes well, he will be the valedictorian and will be giving a speech at graduation. Ian is known as "Mr. History" around the school - he has not missed a question on any history exam for 2 years, and he recently learned that he scored a '5' on the AP exam for European History and also a '5' for American History.

Leila, for her part, is concerned that she won't be able to afford Ian's college experience. In fact, she knows she can't afford it. She is counting on Ian receiving financial aid, and she is likely able to help out with expenses for books and materials. She spends her time caring for Tyler who still lives at home. If financial aid doesn't come through, than Ian can't go. There is nothing that Leila wants more for her son than to go to college.


Ian has also had a girlfriend for the last few years. Molly is someone who cares deeply for Ian and sees the wonderful person that he is. She worries that if he goes to college, he will go far from her, and she is not sure what will happen. Ian worries as well, and he is torn between his desire to pursue a teaching career and his love for Molly.



* What kind of financial aid is available for Ian? Are there specific scholarships for which he is eligible?

* What post-high school options exist for Ian if a 4-year college is not an option?

* Compare JMU's Office of Disability Services with 4 other similar universities  in the U.S. What are the services offered? What are the strengths of JMU as compared to others? What kinds of accommodations is Ian likely to need at college?

DECISION POINT:

Does Ian attend college?

Week 6

Ian is now 14 years old and in the eighth grade at the local school. He is well-liked by his peers and always has a 'buddy' to help him get to class. In spite of all that he has been through, Ian has an incredible spirit about him, and other kids just like to be near him. At first, of course, it was a shock, and friends and family alike struggled to make sense of the situation. Now, Ian's wheelchair is just a part of him, and it's easy to forget that this is the boy with no legs.

After a rocky period right after the accident, Ian does well in school and loves history class. He thinks he wants to grow up to be a history teacher. There is something about the Civil War that fascinates him, and he is fond of making a joke to others that, "there wasn't nothing civil about that war" and immediate gets a kick out of himself.

Leila has dated some since the accident, but she just can't seem to put her heart into it. She's tried to give everything she had to the kids - particularly given Tyler's needs and Ian's. She sees herself as giving everything she has to her kids. She was in therapy for a short time but now focuses on keeping Ian and Tyler going to their regular appointments. 

* Are there enrichment opportunities available for children like Ian? Summer camps? How affordable are such camps?

* What are the typical developmental milestones for a 14 year-old boy? Are there unique considerations regarding Ian's physical growth that have to be taken into account given his amputations?

* Are there mental health therapists who specialize in working with children like Ian? Are there any within Harrisonburg? Within 50 miles?  

Week 5

Ian is now 9 years of age. His brother Tyler survived the accident but has a residual Traumatic Brain Injury that requires occupational and physical therapy.  

* Write a narrative “interview” in which you communicate with Ian in an effort to get to know him.

* Write a narrative “interview” in which you talk with Ian’s mother about him.

* Who is Ian? What kind of child is he? What might someone expect upon meeting him for the first time? Base Ian’s imagined personality on what you know about he and his family so far.

Week 4

Ian Mahoney – Week Four

Ian and Tyler were inseparable. Leila thought about how sweet it was that the two loved each other so much. Tyler really did look out for Ian, and Ian was as fond of his big brother as one could imagine. They were like two peas in a pod. Ian was a healthy 7 year-old, and Tyler, at age ten, loved running in the yard with his brother. After taking time to get herself together after Phil’s death, Leila had started to try to meet someone. There were a couple of “nice guys,” but the sparks just weren’t there. Then she met Eric. He was wonderful – secure in himself, incredible good looks (people said he resembled Brad Pitt), and a deep desire to be a dad. His first wife had died of breast cancer six years before, and he was thrilled to meet Leila.

The two began spending time together, and Ian and Tyler took to Eric. He really was a wonderful person – sensitive, kind, calm, and, at the same time, very much an exceptional role model of what a man could be. Leila couldn’t believe her good fortune – maybe this was Phil looking upon her from above and helping her to move on.

Eric had gotten tickets to the first game of the big series between the hometown team and their cross-state arch-rivals. Everyone was looking forward to the family’s time together, even if it was a little cold and rainy. Leila and Eric loaded up the kids in the car and started to make their way downtown. Ian and Tyler were singing some silly song together, as usual. Leila was turned around in her seat, laughing with them. As she turned toward the front of the car, she later remembered hearing the screech of brakes and her own scream as the truck smashed into the driver’s side of the car.  

When Leila awoke, she was in a bed in a hospital. Her mother had been contacted and was there in the room when she came to. Leila’s first thought was to find her kids. She tried to get out of the bed, but the pain was too great. Her mother was standing there with tears in her eyes. As if in a dream, Leila slowly began to take in the horrible news: Eric had been killed, and Tyler was still in a coma. Ian was in and out of consciousness with a head injury – but he had also sustained severe injuries to both of his legs, and the doctors did not think they could save them. They were trying to wait for Leila to awaken in order to make a decision about what to do. Over the last 24 hours that Leila had been unconscious, teams of doctors worked feverishly to stem the bleeding in an attempt to keep Ian’s legs with him. Gangrene has started to set in, however, and the head physician came to talk with Leila.

It was in this state of mind that Leila had to make the terrible decision for the doctors to remove the legs.  

* What are the major developmental milestones for a 7 year-old?

* What services would you recommend for Leila and Ian at this point?

* What is the responsibility of the school in terms of special education? What is the process that must occur so that the school can meet Ian’s educational need? What kind of assessments should Ian have in order to rule out a Traumatic Brain Injury?

* What might the school do to welcome Ian back when he returns?

* How would you handle telling Ian’s classmates about what happened? Who should be involved?

DECISION POINT:

Does Tyler come out of his coma? If so, does he have any permanent brain damage?