1,384 Comments for Gaebler Children's Center

Pedro
That's ward A. That's the ward I was on

Pookie
Who's Marvin. Am I missing a post

pookie if you were facing the gym I was on the left side, Elaine and Lisa were also staff member along with willy and Russell

A William,
first of all, I don't know who you are, second of all, it is not illegal to post people's last names on here or on any social media site for that matter. I know this for a fact, it's a field I work in. Everything is public knowledge. Hippa is for Dr's,Nurses and the medical field only, and that is that they can't talk about patients in any public area's or even to each other unless they themselves are taking care of the same patients. As for the patients that were there, yes, I will say that we shouldn't say their last names as they may not want people to know they were there, but,it's not against the law to put their last names on here,it's just decent of us to not put them on here. Trust me, feel free to check on the privacy laws yourself, nothing is sacred anymore, no one's life is private anymore, you can even get people's social security numbers now on the internet. Lets just all be polite and respectful of the patients that there there, not the staff members, cause they were very abusive to us, physically, mentally,emotionally and verbally, and sometimes, even sexually, not to mention they drugged us all the time.

Hi Pedro,
Ward A was across from Ward D,the same floor the gym was on, I say it's the 2nd floor, but,honestly,if we include the basement then it's the 3rd floor. I don't know what the staff names were on your Ward, I was on D, and their names were,Willy,Suzanne,Melody,Joanna, Harvey, Jack,and a few other's but,I can't remember their names.

Hi Marvin,
Good Morning, Were you a patient at Gaebler? if so when?

Hi Jan,
How are you doing? I hope well. The name of the African-American Cafeteria lady was Manuella C,she was amazing, and she really did care about us kids and what we ate. Here's the funny thing about her, when I got of Gaebler and then went to an all girls Catholic school for a couple years then was able to go back home in High School, I might a really nice kid,and we were boyfriend and girlfriend and he brought me to his apartment to meet his family and OMG his mother was the cafeteria lady there, she second I walked through the door she said OMG I know you, you were at Gaebler, and I said yes I was and I remember you too, I never told my boyfriend that I was ever at Gaebler and now I had to tell him, it was a very surreal moment, I thought he was going to leave me but,he didn't, we stayed together for over a year and then I broke up with him, but, his mother was always so nice, it was just so weird,I mean, honestly, what are the chances that a staff member from their would be the mother of a guy you were dating? or to even see a staff member ever again once you got out of there? just very odd, but,sadly she passed away years ago. I don't know where any of the other staff members went after the building closed down in 1992,but, I pray that the mean ones got Karma and that the nice one's are still alive and doing well. Well, I must go for now, have a great day xxxxxx

I am sure he could spell his name correctly, but I do not remember the correct spelling of it...

I wonder if anyone remembers the somewhat older african american woman who was a cook in the cafeteria...she used to throw coins into the pool and kids would dive to retrieve them, because they could then keep em...

Was her name Bettina....?

Oh well it is late in the day...to think many of those workers who were a bit older back then are probably gone now...

Probably do not remember how he spelled his name correctly...

Somehow the name of the teacher who held language skills and reading classes upstairs at Gaebler came back to me. Out of the recesses of my memory, through decades clogged with other activities and concerns, images of the short stalky man with a very thick beard, corduroy jeans and "earth shoes" have surfaced today with a name.

Mr Macelerney... Mac eh learny

Maybe someone else remembers him...I liked him actually he could be a bit strict but he liked teaching and was basically a decent sort...I will never forget a tragic little tale he had us read called "A Piece of String" if I remember the title correctly.

Peace to all and wishes for enjoyment of the daily increasing light and warmth at this lovely time of year

I admire you and feel for you Pookie. At first I think that I cannot imagine how you hang in there and then it occurs to me that it is the love you have for your family members that keeps you going.

I want to leave the past in the past regarding Gaebler, but that is of course easier said than done when a wound has left such a big and ugly scar.

I like to believe that that system, which created and maintained Gaebler has changed for the better and that more enlightened care s provided now. I also like to believe that many workers there back then were part of a machine, which they had no power to personally influence.

So given a better framework maybe many of them would have shown a better side of themselves to the children/patients in their care.

Some of them were no doubt just rotten and should never have been allowed near kids with psychological and emotional vulnerabilities.

I will continue to pray for you Pookie, take care of yourself too now friend..

Peace

Jan

I hope you are enjoying the first warmth of Spring.

Hi Pedro (and everyone), just wanted to let you all know that I am obscuring the last names of former residents mentioned by others in respect of their privacy, as they might not want to broadcast this information on the internet. Other than that, feel free to continue the discussion, thanks!

Jan Pinkowitz,
I am so glad that there is the website/forum for us patients of Gaebler. I saw a lot of bad things there, things that a child should never have to see or endure. As for my family, my oldest daughter has been sick since the day she was born and there are no cures and she has lived longer then all the Dr's and Specialists said she would and same for my youngest daughter, she has lived longer then they said she would too. I don't dwell on their health crisis, instead I take my anger about it and do lots of research and call other Dr's and get them to do things that they didn't even know about. They are a blessing to me and my husband, without them, I am nothing, my whole life for the past 23 years 2 months has been taking care of my daughter's,working and taking care of my husband with his COPD that he was just diagnosed with. I also take care of my mom and was taking care of my dad everyday until he passed away 4 years ago. I always have a smile on my face, I will do anything for anyone and I do, and I just am so glad for everyday that god lets my daughter's wake up. I think when people dwell on the bad, then, they will never live, they will never have a good life, and for all that I went through at Gaebler and now go through with my family, I always made a promise to myself that when I got out of Gaebler and had children of my own, that they would and will never be placed in a place like that. thank you so much for your kinds words and prayers for my family, it is much appreciate it.....

I was also there was roommates with Shane and Matt, across from John L****** and Scott G****** year 1984 to 1987 I think it was ward a, staff I remember Lisa, Neil, willy B******.

Thanks Pookie. I was actually at this place http://opacity.us/site...olation_hospital.htm There was the original hospital in back of this building and that is where the Children's Shelter was. We ate and bathed in this hospital building. I tell some of the story in that thread.