Calling Horizon Home

Lisa's Story

This quarter, we celebrated Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month during the month of March. Over thirty minutes of ‘thank-you’s and appreciation messages from more than 20 client family members flooded our voicemail with heartfelt messages to our Horizon ICF staff, recognizing their impactful service and the thoughtful care provided to their loved ones.

Horizon Board Member, Gary Marple, shared with WSLS 10 news how grateful he is for Horizon and the care being provided to his daughter, Lisa.

Lisa, age 53, was told she would not live past her teenage years when she was diagnosed with a nervous system disorder at age 9. Gary said before that, she used to walk, run, and even had a 300– 400-word vocabulary. Today, Gary shares that even though Lisa is non-verbal with limited mobility “she is doing well and thriving.”

Gary credits her good health to the fact that “she is getting good nutrition and the nursing care is well done.”

Gary explained how difficult it can be to find quality care for individuals with disabilities, such as a dentist or physician for example, who can provide care to a non-verbal client.

As parents, we are pleased to know that we can see her and know she is taken care of in ways that we no longer can, physically. Horizon really came through for her.

Margaret's Story

Beginning in 1980, Lula Bowyer, mother of Margaret Bowyer, traveled across Maryland to Pennsylvania to Virginia in search of answers to explain her daughter Margie’s slower-than-normal development. Not until after Margie started Elementary School, did they discover that she had a rare disease called Rett Syndrome.

Pictured above, Amy Ferguson, Lula Bowyer, and Lisa Haibach share a photo after talking with WDBJ 7 News.

After 19 years of teaching special education and working with parents directly, Lula shared “people need to know who Horizon Behavioral Health is, and what they can do to help them.” Margie will be celebrating her 45th birthday this July and has called Horizon 'home' for the last 24 years. As Lula reflected on their family’s journey, she said “I am forever indebted to the people at Horizon -who have become dear friends- for the dedication, love, and understanding that they display each and every day while caring for my daughter.”

Pictured above, Margaret 'Margie' Bowyer takes a walk outside her home as her mother reminisces on 45 joyful years with her beloved daughter.

Today, Lula makes it her mission to ensure other parents know that the help they need and answers they seek are out there. In fact, they can be found right here in Central Virginia.