Michael’s Story
by Michael's Mom

“Mom, it feels so good not to feel so bad!”

Michael is a bright, sunny, happy child.  Always a favorite, always well behaved.  He has a multitude of friends, loves scouts, and volunteers wherever he’s needed.

How could a child such as this learn so differently than all his peers?  How could he have such a tremendous inner struggle that he couldn’t sleep at night?  Why couldn’t he follow instruction in the classroom?  Why couldn’t he read directions on the chalkboard?  Why was he always in the health room with headaches, stomachaches, dizziness?  We did know he had ADD, but there was so much we didn’t know.

By fifth grade, Michael’s self esteem was rock bottom.  It took everything he had to get through a day of school.  The school kept saying he was fine; their tests proved it.  He wasn’t fine, and we needed better answers. 

We took him to an independent diagnostic clinic.  They told us that kids like Michael usually have one area of serious concern; he had five.  As they explained his various learning disabilities, one thought ran through our heads:  How were we going to help him?

Michael began seeing a psychologist for his anxiety disorder as well as taking an anti-depressant; he started seeing an ADD doctor, and we put him in one-on-one tutoring.  We felt that with this report, the school would know what they had to do, we could do our part, and Michael would be successful.  That’s not what happened.

I gave the school the report with big black letters on the front:  “CAUTION!  Report is useless if not read.”  No one read it, and Michael continued his downward spiral.

Michael’s life was a nightmare.  Our hearts were broken and we felt helpless.  We knew there had to be a better way. 

The tutor recommended two different private schools, and New Horizon was one of them.  Our lives were about to change.

New Horizon sent me their literature and we got excited.  But surely, this place couldn’t be for real, could it?  I took a tour and immediately felt the warmth and friendliness of the school.  This was where Michael belonged.  But how would we convince Michael of that?

We sat Michael down and broached the subject of New Horizon.  He burst into tears and told us in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t going.  He would not leave his friends.  He finally agreed to try the five-day visit at New Horizon. 

Michael was so excited by the end of the first day that he couldn’t stop talking about the teachers and the Snack Shack and the kids, and how everything they taught him he could understand!  He had no idea learning could be fun!

Day two Michael jumped out of bed and couldn’t wait to get in the car to go to school.  I heard all about his first day again and just how great it was.  We got to the school, and he couldn’t get to his class fast enough.  At the end of the day, he got in the car and told me he wasn’t going back to his old school.  I loved these words, “Mom, it feels so good not to feel so bad!”

Everything changed.  New Horizon is our miracle.  Michael’s as excited about it today as he was when he started.  He is relaxed, happy and full of energy.  He sleeps better at night, his grades have shot up and he just plain feels on top of the world.  As parents we look at him and smile.  We have our life back, and more importantly, we have our child back.