It was high school commencement day when Gabe walked confidently to the stage. As his mom Julie watched proudly, she expected him to accept his diploma and move on. Instead, Gabe stopped and asked to speak. 
“The kid blew it out of the park!” Julie exclaimed. “He gave such an amazing speech about hope and perseverance. He brought everyone to tears.”
It’s hard to believe that three years earlier, Gabe’s obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) prevented him from leaving his house for a year. Unable to find appropriate care near their home, they were referred to residential treatment at Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 
Overall, Gabe spent a total of six months at Rogers – four months the first time and two months the second time, with a year gap in between. As Gabe reflects, “It took me a while to give treatment a try, but when I did, I found that it actually worked.” 
Gabe was just beginning to understand the skills needed to control his symptoms when their insurance coverage ended. When Gabe went home, he did well for a while, but eventually began to relapse. 
During his second round of treatment, insurance coverage ended after five weeks. That’s when his treatment team contacted Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation and applied for a three-week Patient Care Grant so he could stay at Rogers and solidify his skills for long-term recovery. 
Today, Gabe uses his experience to be a mentor and educate people about OCD. “He’s doing well now because he has the training to do so,” says Julie. “I wish everyone could have the same opportunity as Gabe.”