Dee, One of Our Amazing Clients

Dolores ‘Dee’ was referred to NewBridge@Home after suffering a traumatic head injury in a brutal attack in December 2023. After a 10-day hospital stay, She still dealt with blackouts, vision problems and extreme fatigue. When NewBridge@ Home clinician Jillian Jantzen first visited, Dee was falling asleep mid-sentence. Jantzen helped identify the culprit: a dangerous mix of prescribed medications.

“If it weren’t for Jillian, I’d be dead! I was out of my mind with all that medication,” she said.

Jillian provides weekly in-home mental health counseling and support to Dee, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. “She is my guardian angel,” the 64-year-old said.

The Dover resident has struggled much of her life. Her parents died in their 50s, and she became a mother at age 16. She plunged into grief when her daughter died at 7 1⁄2 months. Within a few years, Dee became addicted to heroin and codeine — a habit she said she fed by shoplifting and stealing stereo systems from cars. She landed in prison after committing a house burglary.

Getting caught turned out to be a blessing. She received early probation and entered a residential drug treatment program, where she excelled. Upon completion, Dee became a certified drug counselor helping adults and later adolescents. With her medications adjusted and weekly counseling with Jillian, Dee feels energetic. “I have changed so much, I have revived!”

Jillian agrees wholeheartedly: “Dee has learned from her past mistakes and is looking ahead to the future to live a more independent life with a higher purpose,” Jillian said. “She has more self-confidence, is more aware of when people try to take advantage of her, and uses her past experiences and trauma to inform others to help them live better lives.”