“we are convinced that, had the government come up with the funds in the first place, his overall quality of life would have been much better,” boisvert said.
jean-marc’s life is ruled by harrowing rituals and behaviours. it includes self injury, where he pulls out his own fingernails and toenails. he incessantly picks at wounds and scabs.
“he’ll pick at his skin until it bleeds,” helene said. “and then he’ll match it on the other side of his body. then he’ll repeat it so the sore gets bigger and bigger, deeper and deeper.”
he’s obsessed with any flaws or imperfections and will try to destroy anything that’s blemished. he has broken three ipods, sometimes biting them so hard that he has chipped his teeth. once, he ripped at a hospital staff member’s id card because he saw it was damaged. that has led to a new ritual where he lunges to grab anyone’s id badge.
“when these behaviours happen, if they’re not addressed, they just get worse,” boisvert said. “the hospital told us that, even if the government came up with funding, they’re not sure if they would release him. it might be another six months … they’re not addressing his behaviours. they’re just sedating him. he’s just staying there and getting worse and worse.”