Crossroad Health Center
5 E. Liberty Street,
Cincinnati,
OH 45202
(513) 381-2247
Crossroad Health Center West
2859 Boudinot Avenue Suite 107,
Cincinnati,
OH 45238
(513) 922-4271
Patient Stories
Life Changing Care
Life has not always been kind to 15 year old Ethan. On the outside it would appear he was destined to be another sad statistic – a teenager turned to a life of violence, gang activity, drugs and eventually jail if not for the intervention of our Crossroad staff. Ethan was 13 when he was placed in the custody of a guardian, Anna. Most children have parents they can trust to care for them, but this was not true for Ethan. Ethan began acting out at school where he was labeled a delinquent. He played right into that label and continued to act out both at home and at school because he was afraid. He was afraid that if he went to school there would be a day when someone would be waiting to take him to another foster family and that meant he would lose the one person he’s grown to trust in this world, Anna.
Ethan has a special place in the hearts of our staff but most especially in the heart of Dr. Borchers. She has gone to meetings at his school to plead for understanding on behalf of Ethan when they wanted to kick him out. She has written countless letters to the magistrates advocating for both Anna and Ethan to remain a family and pleading for mental health involvement in Ethan’s life. While it has been an uphill battle to gain the trust of this unruly teenager, just a couple months ago we had a breakthrough. Ethan’s mood was so foul that day, its intensity could be felt by everyone. Dr. Borchers looked straight at Ethan and asked him why he was so angry. She told Ethan that she’s not like the other adults in his life who have abandoned him; that she’s on his side. Tough, angry Ethan then began to cry and released the hurt and anger he had been holding onto for much of his life. Since that day, we have noticed a positive change starting to take place in his life. Ethan no longer fears going to school and he is starting to trust the adults in his life.
There are dozens more “Ethans” at Crossroad who are angry, hurt, and scared for their futures. It is our mission to be a source of comfort, stability and hope in their lives. Ethan has not been dealt an easy hand in life, but God had a plan for placing him in the lives of those who work at Crossroad to help take care of him.
