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Advocacy Unlimited Newsletter - June/July 2006

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"He was very articulate," said Carl Shields, director of recovery and community integration at the Capitol Region Mental Health Center, where Miserez worked. "He lived it. He was an important member of the advocacy community."

One of Miserez's tasks was to staff a "warm line," a telephone counseling service where people with mental illness would help others by sharing their own experiences. He also helped other people in recovery learn to ride a bus, get to an Alcohol Anonymous meeting, clean their apartment or go to the movies.

Miserez served on the board of the North Central Regional Mental Health Board, which advises the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and was secretary of its local affiliate.

"He had serious mental illness, but he triumphed," said Sheryl Breetz, executive director of the board. "The highlight of his recovery was being employed."

He used public transportation to travel around the state to meetings of mental health groups, sometimes leaving at dawn for an early meeting. He was mugged several times in his Hartford neighborhood but refused to give up going out at night.

Last year, Miserez was having trouble staying awake at work, perhaps because of medication problems. He took a leave of absence, but the problem didn't go away.

In November, he lost his job, but he told few people and was fighting to get his job back.

"I think that's when he started to go downhill," said Richter. "He was very proud [of his job.]"

Rene spent Christmas with his brother's family, and in mid-March, Rene celebrated his birthday at his brother's house but did not mention his job loss. His hygiene was poor, often an indication that he was off his medication, but the party was a success. He insisted there were no problems.

Several days later, he called his family, including his nieces and nephews, and seemed fine. "He answered questions appropriately, but it wasn't the truth." his sister said.

Less than two weeks later, Rene was admitted to the hospital, where he was treated for leg sores. He learned he had diabetes, was discharged with prescriptions to fill and returned to his apartment.

After friends hadn't heard from him for a few days, they checked his apartment and found the prescriptions still in a bag with his clothes. He had died of a pulmonary embolism. His brother, who had known nothing about his hospitalization, found Rene's termination letter when he cleaned out the apartment.

In talking with Shields and others about Rene, Claude learned about Rene's successful work as an advocate for himself and others suffering from a mental illness.

"He had a life in which people really cared for him," said Claude Miserez. "That was really nice. It was something we never knew."

"He had a smile in his voice," said Debra Anderson, a former co-worker. "He was very proud and pleased to be a mental-health advocate."

Copyright 2006, Hartford Courant

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