At 13-years-old, Norah was frequently self-harming. Her parents Randy and Amanda Wanke said she lost motivation and, at times, the will to live.
“Trying to parent a child through mental health challenges is extremely lonely and difficult,” shared Amanda. Five years ago, that loneliness defined the Wanke family’s reality.
Today, at 18-years-old, Norah is in college. Mental health is a life-long journey, and many parents hope for the outcome that Norah has had thus far. For Randy and Amanda, their biggest hope now is to let other families know that they are not alone.
“There’s no easy button to hit to fix things, but because of the care Norah received at Orchard Place she now has the tools to manage her struggles,” said Randy. Norah stayed at the Residential Campus for six months. During this time, Randy volunteered and got involved with Orchard Place, paving the way to becoming the Vice President of the Foundation Board of Directors at Orchard Place – bringing the parent perspective and voice to the table.
“I’m not exaggerating when I say this, but I truly believe that Orchard Place saves children’s lives.
It did with my daughter.”
Not only did the Wanke’s feel like they were supported, but they had also found a community within Orchard Place. “Having the resources there gave us hope for our daughter to not only survive but thrive,” shared Amanda. “Because of Orchard Place, our daughter has a bright future.” Randy added, “Norah is now living life to its fullest.”
