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Now I see Hope

Dania Maxwell/Staff After a behavior meltdown Matthew Wendt, 9, left, sits for a twenty minute time-out while his mother Mindy Wendt, right takes a moment to herself in their home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Matthew is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. His meltdowns have become less frequent through the therapy sessions his mother, Mindy Wendt, has received. With financial assistance provided through Health Under Guided Systems, HUGS, Wendt is able to have free weekly therapy sessions.

Photo by DANIA MAXWELL

Dania Maxwell/Staff After a behavior meltdown Matthew Wendt, 9, left, sits for a twenty minute time-out while his mother Mindy Wendt, right takes a moment to herself in their home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Matthew is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. His meltdowns have become less frequent through the therapy sessions his mother, Mindy Wendt, has received. With financial assistance provided through Health Under Guided Systems, HUGS, Wendt is able to have free weekly therapy sessions.

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  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Mindy Wendt prepares snacks for her three children and smiles at her oldest son, Matthew, 9, completing spelling homework on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. 'This is the kid everyone should see,' Mindy said about Matthew's positive behavior. Meltdown's come easily to Matthew, who is diagnosed several mental illnesses. Assisted by her therapy sessions, Mindy tries to maximize structure in their home. As a result, Matthew's meltdowns have become less frequent. The weekly therapy sessions are possible through financial assistance provided through Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Matthew Wendt, 9, sits playing video games as a reward for finishing his homework at his home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Matthew is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. Matthew's behavior meltdowns have become less frequent through the therapy sessions his mother, Mindy Wendt, has received. With financial assistance provided through Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S., Wendt is able to have free weekly therapy sessions.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff After a behavior meltdown Matthew Wendt, 9, left, sits for a twenty minute time-out while his mother Mindy Wendt, right takes a moment to herself in their home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Matthew is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. His meltdowns have become less frequent through the therapy sessions his mother, Mindy Wendt, has received. With financial assistance provided through Health Under Guided Systems, HUGS, Wendt is able to have free weekly therapy sessions.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Matthew Wendt, left, 9, and his brother Maxwell, right, 7, play video games as a reward for completing their homework on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Matthew is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. Guided by their parents therapy sessions, structure is increasingly added to their home routines. As a result, Matthew's behavior has greatly improved. The weekly therapy sessions are possible through financial assistance provided by Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff A behavior chart Mindy and Matt Wendt use for their sons Matthew and Maxwell in their home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Meltdown's come easily to Matthew, 9, who is diagnosed several mental illnesses. Assisted by therapy sessions, Mindy and Matt try to maximize structure in their home. As a result, Matthew's meltdowns have become less frequent. The weekly therapy sessions are possible through financial assistance provided by Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Mindy Wendt asks her son Matthew, 9, about his day at school on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Matthew's eruptive behavior makes it difficult for him to develop friendships at school. He is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. Guidance provided to Mindy in therapy sessions has caused Matthew's meltdowns have become less frequent. The weekly therapy sessions are possible through financial assistance provided by Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Matthew Wendt, 9, is punished with time-out after a meltdown on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Resulting from his Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder, his behavior often erupts. His behavior has improved through guidance provided to his parents in therapy sessions. The weekly therapy sessions are possible through financial assistance provided by Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Mindy Wendt, left, has a therapy session with George Drobinsky, right, a licensed mental health counselor, about issues relating to her children on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Too young for school, Wendt brought her youngest, Maggie, along to the session. Wendt's oldest son, Matthew, 9, is diagnosed with several mental illness's and has frequent meltdowns. But, with financial assistance provided through Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S., Wendt receives free guidance on how to deal with her son's behavior and it has led to vast improvements in their home life and schoolwork.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Mindy Wendt sits with her daughter Maggie in their home Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. 'I'm exhausted,' Mindy said in the afternoon. Once a week Mindy and her husband Matt visit a therapist that helps guide parenting their children. Much of the session is dedicated to issues relating to their oldest son, Matthew, 9, who is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. Resulting from the sessions, Matthew's behavior has improved at home. The weekly therapy sessions are possible through financial assistance provided by Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Mindy Wendt helps her son, Matthew, through his spelling homework, while holding onto her daughter Maggie in their home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. Matthew is diagnosed with Bipolar, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorder. Guided by her therapy sessions, Mindy tries to maximize structure in their home. As a result, Matthew's meltdowns have become less frequent. The weekly therapy sessions are possible for Mindy through financial assistance provided by Health Under Guided Systems, H.U.G.S.
  • Dania Maxwell/Staff Mindy Wendt kisses her husband, Matt Wendt, as he holds onto their daughter Maggie in their home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 in Naples, Fla. The couple survives off Matt's income as an Auto Technician.

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