“Illness is incredibly humbling,” says JoAnne Colucci.  “There comes a point when you just have to ask for help.” JoAnne describes herself as a classic doer. She’s the type of person who takes care of everything – and everyone. Still, when her three-year-old daughter, Rosie, was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (NF), she realized she could no longer succeed completely on her own. “In the very early stages of our struggles, an acquaintance mentioned Wellness Place to me,” JoAnne recalls. “By the time we visited Wellness Place for the first time, we had seen every kind of physician, physical therapist, psychologist, you name it. My baby had had five brain surgeries in a six-week period – and she wasn’t bouncing back. Nobody had prepared me for that—She just wasn’t our Rosie.” During that first counseling session, the specialist at Wellness Place implemented art therapy and medical play to talk to the two young sisters about Rosie’s condition, her treatment and the effect it was having on the family. By drawing pictures and through the use of color, both Rosie and Bella were able to express ideas and feelings which their young vocabularies would otherwise not allow. With the help of the Wellness Place’s Medikin doll, she was able to explain medical concepts such as “ports,” “shunts,” “IVs” and “adapters” in visual, friendly and age-specific terms.  Both Rosie and her sister inspected the doll carefully and took turns giving her shots.

Rosie has since been thriving with a new outlet for expressing her fears, stress and anxiety. Bella is benefiting by being able to address some very common, but sometimes uncomfortable, sibling issues: questions about the mystery of Rosie’s illness, Bella’s own needs and dreams, and occasionally, even jealousy.

Finally, the woman who never likes to ask for help is finding help at her fingertips through Wellness Place programs. JoAnne participates in one-on-one counseling to manage stress while working through her many options and decisions. “For me, the counseling at Wellness Place offers more than just an outlet. It’s an education really. The counselors understand the illness; they understand the hospitals and the process. They help me work through planning and clear my head, so I can focus. In reality, they walk with me, holding my hand on this difficult journey. Having their support has been key to finding success in this complicated fight.”

For JoAnne, a short conversation she had with Rosie illustrates the success of their family’s involvement with Wellness Place. “Today, Mom, I’m happy. But, I’m sad too,” Rosie announced one morning. “Why?” her mother asked. “I’m happy, because I love my family. But I’m sad, because I have to get shots,” she said with a matter-of-fact clarity that startled JoAnne. “It sounds so simple, but for a three-year-old, that’s complex. And it wouldn’t have been possible without Wellness Place.”

JoAnne Colucci
Mother of Bella and Rosie (age 5, who has neurofibromatosis, NF)