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Secret Revealed

Author of Annie's Ghosts
packs three venues to tell the

story of his forgotten aunt.

F

ormer Detroiter Steve Luxenberg,
author of Annie's Ghosts, spoke to a
packed house at the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield on May 21 for a
lunch-time event in support of JFS.
Luxenberg's family memoir tells the story of
the author's aunt, Annie, who lived and died in
secret in Eloise State Hospital for the mentally
ill.
The author also spoke at a Bloomfield Hills
residence on May 19. Proceeds from both events
will support JFS mental health services. He also
spoke to a packed audience at the Holocaust
Memorial Center in Farmington Hills.
During his remarks at the JCC, Luxenberg
reflected on the complicated choices he con-
fronted in revealing his family secret to the
world, and on the historical attitudes toward
mental illness that cut Annie off from the world.
The discussion also included a panel of JFS
experts who provided context on stigma and on
the current state of mental health services in
Michigan. The panel included Rozanne Sedler,
who counseled Annie's sister, Beth Luxenberg,
and played a role in revealing her secret.
Former WXYZ journalist and Michigan
Journalism Hall of Fame inductee Cheryl
Chodun moderated the discussion.

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Inspiring Talk

N

early 300 men and women
attended and experienced an
informative, heartfelt evening
with show business legend Patty Duke at
Kadima's annual "Healthy Body Healthy
Mind" event on May 8 at Southfield's
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
The program opened with a welcome by
Kadima Executive Director Eric Adelman
and an introduction by event chair Robin
Tobin-Murav, who chronicled Duke's dif-

Patty Duke and Robin Tobin-Murav of
Farmington Hills

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June 19 • 2014

Luxenberg with Rozanne Sedler of
JFS, who counseled Annie's sister,

Beth, and believed revealing the
family secret was important.

/* ass

Author Steve Luxenberg discusses his book Annie's Ghosts at the JCC.

Sheldon Stone, JFS Executive Director Perry Ohren
and Luxenberg

The packed audience at the Holocaust Memorial Center

enjoys Luxenberg's talk.

Kadima's "Healthy Body Healthy Mind" fundraiser welcomes actress Patty Duke.

ficult childhood, her rise to fame and her
mental illness diagnosis at age 35.
Duke spoke candidly about years of
symptoms and behaviors that, as she said,
"had no name until her doctor defined
her symptoms as a mental illness known
as bipolar disorder." From depression to
mania, Duke's life was a series of profes-
sional triumphs and personal trials that
culminated in verbal and physical abuse
of her children.

Jim Zack of Franklin and Kadima
Executive Director Eric Adelman

Once on medication and her mood
state stabilized, Duke was able to con-
nect with her children, seek and receive
their forgiveness and build a strong and
healthy relationship with them. She noted
that an important piece of her work was
also to forgive herself.
An inspirational question-and-answer
session followed, with local people who
had read her books, expressing what
a powerful impact Duke had on their

Deborah Tyner of Franklin and
Milton Zussman of Franklin

lives. Many Kadima clients and others
diagnosed with mental illness thanked
her for giving them hope and for publicly
acknowledging the challenges of living
with mental illness.
Proceeds from the event benefit
Kadima's child, adolescent and adult
services. Kadima offers residential and
outpatient care to people with chronic
and persistent mental illness. To access
Kadima's services, call (248) 558-8235.

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Ann Katz of Bloomfield Hills and

Lita Zemmol of Beverly Hills