The Lee Specialty Clinic has touched the lives of countless patients and families. If the clinic has made a difference in your life or the life of someone you love, we invite you to share yours. Click on the title of a post (i.e. Adam’s Story (Kacy Stickler) to read the entire story. This page features only an excerpt.
I have been on the Lee Speciality Clinic waitlist for nearly two years.
I am a 26 year old with autism, ocd, and epilepsy. Finding comprehensive care has been incredibly challenging for me as I usually have to travel to multiple counties to get the care that I need. For example, I have to travel near Cincinnati annually for dental work so that I can be sedated for the safety of myself and everyone around me.
For two years, the Lee Clinic has provided care to my 23-year-old son, who has autism and is non-verbal. He was enrolled in their program as part of a crisis plan. The clinic’s team of professionals, including medical doctors, psychologists, and dental care providers, has collectively contributed to remarkable progress in my son’s life and our family dynamics. The clinic’s services are essential to our well-being.
Hi, my name is Adrian. I am 42 years old and have mild Autism Spectrum disorder and Tourettes Syndrome. I am a very high functioning individual and have indeed also been educated on the dire importance of advocating for myself. My life, like many other lives, has greatly improved since my time at the clinic. I am unbelievably devastated with the recent news!
My daughter KeAhsia was diagnosed with Autism/Tourette’s/ADHD with hypersensitivity at the age of 7. She had been through many of hospital stays through out her 24 years on the earth, she has been a patient at the Lee Clinic since she turned in 18 years of age. My experience’s with this clinic has been nothing more than amazing. They have always treated us like family and she had a Provider and mental health provider that had always went over and beyond with her care. Now that my daughter’s services have been discontinued who is going to care for my daughter like the Lee Clinic had? We as families of individuals with disabilities counted on every appointment we had with the Lee Clinic because we knew our family members were in good hands. I’m willing to fight to get what they deserve because they matter too.
Adam was diagnosed with level 3 autism at 18 months old. I have never known a different version of Adam.
Throughout Adam’s years, we’ve spent a lot of time advocating and healthcare has been no exception. With Adam being nonverbal, it’s been such a challenge finding doctors who will listen to us. Who understand autism. Who understand those like Adam.
My son, Rush, was diagnosed with autism when he was 5 at the Shelby County school system in Shelbyville, Kentucky-our hometown. I, as a mother, always knew there was something different about him .He would scream when he was a baby-I don’t mean cry. I mean scream for hours at a time. He was more hyper and more destructive than the kids his age. He did not talk. He didn’t catch on to some of the skills the others were achieving. I received calls from the school almost every day, calls from daycare everyday. Calls saying he’s wild out of control-please come pick him up from school he’ off the charts, we can’t handle him, he won’t quit screaming, he’s destructive he can tear up a classroom in seconds.
My daughter, Ashley, has severe autism, epilepsy and intellectual disability. She has Medicaid and went to the Lee Clinic for Dental, Medical, Speech therapy, Occupational therapy.
My son Andrew has non verbal profound autism and epilepsy. He is on the waiting list for Lee. His primary care doctor discharged him due to his fear of the doctor and not being able to understand Andrews fears. We had so much hope in this clinic and the inclusion of their patients. The fact that this is where they want to make Medicaid cuts to those that are the most vulnerable is heart breaking.
This is our Blakey. Blake was born at 24 weeks weighing 1lb 10oz. From the moment he entered this world, Blake needed doctors and nurses to survive. As a premature baby, his tiny body just wasn’t strong enough to support himself. He required a ventilator to breath, daily heel pricks for blood tests, experienced constant collapsed lungs, was covered in lights to keep his bilirubin level down, had an illiostomy surgery at 1lb 4oz to repair a torn illium, had a colostomy bag for several months, experienced a severe grade-4 brain bleed, and had an illiostomy reversal surgery….all prior to finally leaving the hospital 4 months later at 4lbs 6oz. He did not and would not have it easy medically!
Justin has been involved with Lee Specialty Clinic since its inception! The closure of Lee Specialty Clinic will have a devastating impact on my son, who has severe autism and relies on specialized services that are difficult to find elsewhere. For years, Lee Specialty Clinic has provided care, support, and resources tailored to his unique needs. Losing these services threatens his health, stability, and quality of life, while placing an even greater burden on our family as we struggle to find equivalent care. For individuals with complex disabilities, continuity of specialized services is essential, and the loss of Lee Specialty Clinic leaves many families facing an uncertain future.
