focus
FOUNDATION Spring 2013
Volume 6 Issue 1
Kimmie’s Kaleidoscope of Hope Pilot neurofeedback program holds promise for ADHD sufferers
Students from Goshen Middle School are making strides in the war against Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), thanks to a pilot neurofeedback program engineered by local psychologist Dr. Jonathan Neufeld and funded by the Goshen Hospital & Health Care Foundation. The training program uses neurofeedback – a real-time display of frontal lobe brain activity – to teach students with ADHD how to focus their minds and improve their performance in the classroom. Children who have struggled with ADHD for most of their lives are already finding success in Neufeld’s program, both at school and at home. In biweekly sessions over a 10-week period, the students sit in front of computers wearing headbands with sensors that measure the flow of oxygenated blood to the frontal lobe of their brains. The frontal lobe is where focus, attention and freedom from distraction occur. During a typical session, a graph is displayed on a computer monitor that shows immediate changes in brain activity. The students are asked to focus on an image on the screen – perhaps a puzzle or even the graph itself. Gradually they learn to manipulate the graph by concentrating their attention on a single point. The 30-minute exercise teaches them the kind of concentration that’s necessary for successful learning which they were previously unable to attain on their own. With most of the students, this new ability to focus automatically transfers to the classroom.
Goshen Middle School sixth-grader Kimberly Butler first experienced ADHD symptoms at age 4. Emotional outbursts – sometimes violent – an inability to sit still, and bouts of insomnia, one of which lasted seven consecutive days, began to rule not only her life, but her family’s as well. With each passing day, James and Tina Butler found themselves strapped into their daughter’s emotional roller coaster, full of unpredictable twists and turns. They felt helpless to free their daughter from the grip of her reality. Despite her parents’ exhaustive efforts through “natural” remedies, cognitive behavioral therapy, prescription medications and countless visits to doctors, Kimberly’s world consisted of emotional and physical outbursts at home, daily struggles to sit quietly in her classroom, and isolating herself in her room when even the presence of her own family became too overwhelming to bear. Kimberly, painfully aware that she was different from her peers, would ask her mom, “Why can’t I be like other kids?” (Note: These are not symptoms shared by all ADHD sufferers and some of the symptoms may be unrelated to ADHD.) When the Butlers were approached by Dr. Neufeld last fall to participate in his pilot neurofeedback program, they consulted with their pediatrician. She advised them to participate, believing any kind of progress would be worthwhile for Kimberly. The family was amazed to find that within a couple of weeks, “we were noticing big changes,” says Tina. Kimberly could sit still – continued on page 4
Kimberly surrounds herself with happy colors now. Read why!
In this issue Kimmie’s Kaleidoscope of Hope Our Heritage Society Pioneer Families: Howard and Myra Brembeck Your Will or the State’s Rules 2013 Gala for Goshen Health 2012 Program Support
Goshen Hospital & Health Care
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Our Heritage Society Pioneer Families First in a 3-part series; Next: Norval and Jean Poyser followed by the Harold Schrock Family
At the same time, Howard saw the United States building relationships through commerce with its former enemies, Germany and Japan. He realized economic interdependencies could not only result in greater prosperity and diplomacy, but they also provided a strong incentive to avoid nuclear war.
Myra and Howard Brembeck (2000).
Some people just dream of the world becoming a better place. Howard Brembeck and his beloved wife, Myra, made it so. An innovator, humanitarian and business leader, Howard Brembeck would develop over the course of his life a perceptive vision for global peace and prosperity through cooperation rather than military force. Howard gave evidence of his forward thinking early in his business career when he founded Chore-Time Brock (CTB), a Milford, Ind.-based manufacturer of innovative agricultural feeding systems that eventually grew to include a sales network extending to more than 100 countries and plants in Europe and Latin America. Howard served as CEO for 40-plus years before retiring in 1995 at the age of 85. As remarkable as his business career was, perhaps more exceptional was Howard’s lifelong devotion to the causes of philanthropy and world peace. In 1979, at the height of the Cold War, Howard fell asleep on a bus while traveling in England and had a dream that would shape the course of his life. In the dream, he saw how quickly political animosities could devolve into a nuclear Armageddon that would extinguish life on an epic scale. So vivid was this vision that when he awoke, he felt compelled to act.
From these twin realizations, Howard founded the Fourth Freedom Forum in 1982, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, privately operated foundation focused on promoting international cooperation through the power of trade. The Forum – headquartered in Goshen with offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Europe – derives its name from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vision of the four freedoms: 1) speech, 2) religion, 3) want, and 4) freedom from fear of the threat of war and weapons of mass destruction. Even though his business interests and visions for peace were global, Howard was actively engaged in his local community, serving on the board of directors of Goshen Hospital, Goshen Hospital Foundation, Elkhart County Community Foundation, and other charitable and service organizations. To truly describe the man, it should be noted that he was first and foremost a man of faith, as evidenced by his substantial contributions to Christian education institutions. In 1996, Howard built the Oakwood Inn on Lake Wawasee as a hotel and Christian retreat center. In 1999, he founded the Oakwood Christian Leadership Academy, a summer training program for teenagers to develop Christian leadership skills. In 2007, the First Presbyterian Church in Goshen presented Howard with the church’s very first “Living Waters” honor for his faithful service in helping others.
Howard passed away at the age of 100 on Dec. 5, 2010. His wife, Myra, preceded him in death in 2001. By the time he closed his century, the Brembecks’ deep compassion had earned them numerous recognitions. In 1993, Howard was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Manchester College. The citation read: “Business leader, manufacturer, innovator, humanitarian, philanthropist.” The couple also was awarded Manchester College’s Citation for Responsible Philanthropy in recognition of their significant contributions to the community. Goshen Hospital & Health Care Foundation’s mission is being advanced today by a $250,000 unrestricted estate gift received in 2011, in addition to the Brembecks’ many other generous contributions. In 2002, the Myra K. Brembeck Memorial Fund for Palliative Radiation was established. Palliative care prevents and relieves the suffering of terminally ill patients. Note: those funds are now nearly depleted, but additional gifts can be made with the enclosed envelope. The Brembecks’ generosity lives on through the wonderful ways their gifts make living easier. Their legacy also provides a pathway for others to share their passion for a healthy future for all as members of our Heritage Society, which already has seen so many step up to join our “band of good hearts,” designating estate or planned gifts. Our gratitude can never be expressed adequately to show enough appreciation. Keeping the Brembecks’ good deeds alive by joining the Heritage Society or our Caring Club will honor them once again. You could not share better company!
Your Will or the State’s Rules A will is your opportunity to allocate your assets in a way that helps the people and organizations that mean the most to you. If you die without a will, your property will be taxed and distributed according to your state’s intestacy law. Here’s what this could mean for your family members if you do not have a will: • Spouse: Your surviving spouse is entitled to a fixed percentage of your estate, which in most cases is much less than what you would want to provide. In addition, some of your most valuable assets, such as real estate and investment accounts could have ownership split among a spouse and children. • Children: A will should select a guardian(s) to act in your place as a parent for your children and as a trustee to make financial decisions for them. Without a will, expensive and time-consuming legal steps will need to be taken to have guardians named. And, there will be no ability to control assets going to a child beyond the age of 18.
• Grandchildren and stepchildren: Without a will, there are no guarantees grandchildren will receive any benefits after your death. No state permits a stepchild or stepgrandchild to inherit property except through a will. • Favorite Charities: No state law provides for charitable gifts except through a will or trust and, if no eligible beneficiaries exist under state law, your entire estate will pass to the state. • Tax Planning: Wills are a responsible way to do tax planning so more of your property can be preserved for your beneficiaries rather than passing it to state and federal governments. There’s still time to make sure that your wishes will be taken into account. By naming the Foundation in your will, you will join the Brembecks as an automatic member of our Heritage Society and Caring Club. We’ll be happy to provide more information about wills in general, and bequests to us in particular. Visit our website at http://www. legacy.vg/goshen/articles/6.html or call our Executive Director at (574) 533-4500. This publication is intended to provide general gift planning information. Our organization is not qualified to provide specific legal, tax or investment advice, and this publication should not be looked to or relied upon as a source for such advice. Consult with your own legal and financial advisors before making any gift.
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2012 Program Support IU Health Goshen Hospital Patient Financial Support IU Health Goshen Hospital Pastoral & Spiritual Care IU Health Goshen Hospice & Care at Home Services IU Health Goshen Hospital Nursing Continuing Education IU Health Goshen Hospital major medical equipment IU Health Goshen Hospital Childbirth Education classes IU Health Goshen Hospital Palliative Care IU Health Goshen Hospital Heartstring Sisters Program Schrock Student Nurse Loan Program Boys & Girls Club of Goshen - Anti-Obesity Program Center for Healing and Hope - Goshen Children’s Fund Council on Aging - Transportation for medical care Goshen Community Schools - Cribs for Child Care Center Goshen Community Schools - Dental care for children Goshen Community Schools - ADHD Neurofeedback Study Dale Family Nursing Scholarship Oxbow Elementary School - 5K Fitness Run Ryan’s Place - Grief Support program Your continued support will help us fulfill our mission “to assist and support the programs and projects of IU Health Goshen Hospital and the communities it serves.” Please accept our heartfelt gratitude.
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‘Kimmie’ continued... not only in class, but at home. She was sleeping better and her emotional outbursts were decreasing. They began to gradually back off her ADHD prescriptions one week at a time. By Christmas, Kimberly was completely off her medications. Her extended family and grandparents noticed how much better she socialized, even though they had no idea she was no longer taking her prescriptions. Diane Woodworth, superintendent of Goshen Schools, is pleased with the program. “One of the important things to me is to introduce treatments that do not disrupt the school day and to think about intervention more in the way educators think about it,” she says. “We also need to think of the program as neuro-development professionals do – as a long-term process.” Dr. Neufeld has been interested in “brain training” since completing his master’s degree, especially in the areas of the power of mastery, self-control and self-efficacy, all which are drivers of hope and confidence. “Power of mastery” pertains to providing a new awareness in the students of actions they can take to positively influence their situation. As part of her cognitive therapy, Kimberly would draw and write in a
scrapbook that she titled, “Kimmie’s Imagination Book: My World in a Book.” On her “bad days,” before Dr. Neufeld’s program, the pages were filled with disorganized, dark and scribbled thoughts and images she called “not normal.” Now her pages are filled with organized landscapes filled with bright colors, animals and friends – not unlike her real world. The child who used to wear black to “match my mood” now dresses in vibrant colors. At school, her grades, though always good, have improved. Her time management is improved, and she can even sit and read for an hour. Kimberly’s success story is mirrored in 50 – 75 percent of the participants of Dr. Neufeld’s program. Further, an increasing number of special needs teachers are now contacting him for help. To expand the program’s success, more equipment is needed. Dr. Neufeld’s dream is to have ten to twenty units in the lab, or five to six units in a classroom to allow students to practice their “focus training” at school. The equipment cost ranges from $1,500 for a self-contained
Dr. Jonathan Neufeld works with a middle school student using the “power of mastery.”
system up to $10,000 for a more sophisticated assessment and intervention system. It’s an investment that could potentially transform the lives of other children with ADHD like Kimberly. “I feel normal now,” says Kimberly, a bubbly and talkative tween who loves singing, drama, musicals and crafts. “Now she’s a social butterfly,” says her mother. “She has lots of friends and isn’t afraid to talk to new people.” What more could a girl want? Thank you, generous donors, who gave this love of life to Kimberly and the others in this program.
For more information, please contact Goshen Hospital & Health Care Foundation, Inc. (574) 533-4500 or make your donation online at givetogoshen.org