My great-aunt had a lobotomy because she fell in love with a man from Africa and her family disapproved. Her parents were very rich and influential and she was sent to a "sanitorium" and lobotomized for it. Afterwards, she was wheelchair-bound and the only words she could say afterwards were the names of her family members. The ones who did that horrible thing to her. They abandoned her to die alone in an institution. This is why we need to remember our past, so we do not repeat it.
@Mariel R true. This all happened in Canada, but a lot of the values hold the same. Ignorance, intolerance, hatred and judgment are unfortunately all around, especially during that time.
People forget that this wasn’t that long ago at all. Thank you for hitting us with the reality that this happened to your great-aunt and not great great great great-aunt.
@@pebblesmiller9026 That is not true anymore. It used to be a dangerous procedure between 40s and 60s but today ECT is a well researched treatment and if it caused brain damage, it would be banned. It kick starts regeneration of the brain. ECT patients are in full anesthesia during the procedure and current of 0.8 amp is passed through their brain for up to 6 sec. Your standard AA battery has 2.7 amp.
A.) ECT can carry side effects for sure, but not brain damage. Usually more like headaches and nausea. B.) I have never heard of it being used on pediatric patients at all or for treatment of ADHD in anyone in its current form. I would love to know your sources on this statement?
My uncle is mentally disabled due to difficulty during childbirth. Ironically, he is also a Kennedy. I believe his symptoms are very similar to Rosemary as oxygen was cut off to his brain during my grandmother's delivery. I am so grateful that my grandparents were not embarrassed by him. He was born in the 1950s and my Grandparents took care of him until they passed away. He is a beloved part of our family and has a brilliant memory. We treat him like we would any other person. Rosemary's story has always broken my heart as her condition is so similar to my uncle. She could have thrived if they gave her love and support instead of hiding her away and trying to "correct" her.
When I worked in a carehome about 17-18 years ago, we had two people that had been lobotomized after WW2. One man and one woman, both in their 90s. Both of them had the full use of their bodies, could walk and take care of themselves (more than most people in their 90s), but had limited language. But it truly was like they were not there. A body without whatever it is that makes you human. There was no emotions at all. The only thing I experienced, similar to emotion, was a stress reaction to a routine not being followed. But it was also in a strangly absent way. She froze and refused to do anything. As soon as things was done as normal, she went back to being calm. I remember feeling so much anger that they could treat people like that, for having traumas. We did our best, to make the end of their lifes meaningful and comfortable. I don't know how they experienced things, as it is very difficult to tell. But I hope they at least felt comfort, if nothing else.
This is horrifying. As someone with autism, I was a little behind my classmates in certain areas. I do not know why people treated people like me in such away. 😔
it still happens unfortunately. i know a girl who had a brain surgery essentially similar to a lobotomy done in the 2010s to 'fix' her because she was autistic and nonverbal, it left her with horrific irreparable damage. it's scary and it hasn't stopped, esp with organisations like autism speaks funding shock collar institutes and bleach 'fixes' etc, canada refusing the right to marry to adults with cognitive disabilities like autism, etc... but knowing other people who are autistic, disabled, chronically ill, etc and surrounding yourself with that makes it easier to cope with the world being set against us. there's nothing wrong with us, just a lot wrong with the world. xoxo
@@OmqSparklez How unfortunate. I did know about Autism Speaks and their whole "cure" agenda. Its so sad that an organisation that supposedly is for the help and. nurture autistic people does not have a single autistic person on their executive board. I am a fairly high functioning individual but for me to be able to work to my full capacity I need some accommodations in place. I also have bilateral hearing loss. Yet one more reason I would be considered "undesirable"
Because people didn't like different, som still don't, but I and I hope everyone i the comments do, it can be an awful and cruel world but we have to keep fighting for the right things
@@OmqSparklez I live in Canada, and I struggle with finding resources for how to get help as an adult with multiple neurodiverse conditions (and physical pain/fatigue). But I did not know about the marriage thing. Myself and my partner have different kinds of learning disabilities (not fully diagnosed due to the high cost for private, and the many year wait times for free testing) and now I want to look into the marriage thing. Thankfully university policies where we go are great when it comes to accommodations and free advising services, but I worry about when I need to get a job after I finish my degree. Will employers be able to accommodate my sensory needs? Will I need to pay another $1500 for a second 20 page report about what my needs are? I sure hope not, but it seems like unless you're one of those "autistic genius" stereotypes, it's hard to get anyone to listen to our needs.
I was born almost 38 years ago (not the 1920's), with Spina Bifida. The doctors told my mother that i'd never be independent in any meaningful way and advised her to institutionalize me. nearly 38 years later and ive done everything so far that the drs said I wouldn't be able to & am a national champion athlete.
@@pebblesmiller9026 You understand that you cannot use that without permission and it is far different from how it once was. You are not informed and are simply trying to upset people
@@WritingSch in most of the countries, sure. Unfortunately, there still are countries which are locking disabled people away to "hide" them and "curing" them in a ways Mr. Freeman did. China and Russia for example, altho it's not well known, as both of the countries are good at making people shut up in their own ways. :/
The ultimate villain in this case is really Joe Senior, who was a really awful person whose designs for his sons ultimately lead the deaths of most of them, and the near ruin of the last, before he died, as well as Rosemary's torture.
It kills me to know that all she ever needed was a little support, yet she was forced to endure a horrible surgery. If she had just continued studying at a supportive school she would have thrived. I'm so glad we don't trust these surgeries today, and we're beginning to be more open about mental and learning disabilities, though we still have a long way to go. Also, I was never taught about her in school. I learned about her when I read an article about the special Olympics, which mentioned the founder's sister was mentally disabled, but I had no idea she was disabled due to a lobotomy. I'm glad her family started speaking out about disabilities though. Also, I had no idea Eunice's son started Best Buddies, I know all about that organization
Maddie Tillem mentally ill patients are forced, by section of the MHA, to have ELECTRIC Shock THERAPY in the UK everyday. Its abuse and barbaric in 2020 . I know direct experience
This "Dr" Freedman reminded me of something I read a few years back. Which lead me down a rabbit hole. It turns out, several "drs" in my area where, infact, not doctors at all. Some where failed med students, others simple read medical books and fancied themselves doctors. What's shocking is that they were able to open surgeries, "treat" patients, and amass millions of dollars/pounds etc before they were caught. I believed a dr had to earn the position, the title but, apparently, you can pay for it and sing and dance your way into it. My heart goes out to Rosemary Kennedy. To everyone. Heres to hoping for a better future. A human future.
As someone who is mentally ill, the history of the lobotomy has always held a dark intrigue. While curious about the history of the procedure, I was also obviously horrified. I knew some stuff about Rosemary Kennedy going into this video but certainly not that she was deprived of oxygen during her birth. If I know anything from Call the Midwife, that is INSANELY dangerous. This video, while not exactly fun, was very interesting and informative; thanks for it. As regards future videos, I'd love some background on the ADA or a comparison of protections for disabled people in the US and UK. I went to London four years ago and I was AGHAST at the lack of accessibility on public transportation. "Lifts" were barely operational on the tube and the whole "mind the gap" thing made it seem like it would be IMPOSSIBLE to get around with a mobility aid. I hope you and Claudia and Walter and Tilly are staying safe!
The ADA stuff over in the US is strange. It's very misleading, at least in my experience. There's plenty of talk about inclusiveness and the like, but in practice, it can often be easier to not go to employers about it. I've had whole smear campaigns started against me for bring in my doctor's notes to try and get them to not punish my ability to only work 15 hour weeks.
There's a great documentary on Netflix called "Crip Camp" that talks about the history of disability activism in the 60s-70s in the USA. It is so inspiring.
Rosemary sister Eunice started the special Olympics in honor of her sister. Something good, unfortunately from tragedy Oh, her husband Colonel Shriver started the peace corps.
Suggestion for your next historical profile: Louisa May Alcott or Alan Turing. They were both very talented LBGT people who saw incredibly cruel treatment.
Wait what??? I've been studying Alcott for years, and while she's obviously LGBT+ she was never "out" and enjoyed prosperity and respect in the Boston area as an adult author. Her dad was a dick who frequently made his family go hungry when she was a child, though, so she suffered from chronic pain and immunosuppression that meant she was more succeptible to illness (also she caught typhoid and was dosed with mercury). So a lot of abuse and neglect and trauma, but it was never specifically focused on her being gay. In the eyes of society, she was the spinster sister who took care of her family in their old age. Every family needed to have one.
The way Rosemary was described as never leaving home without family struck a nerve. Although we’ve never lobotomized my sister, who has Down Syndrome, she does mostly only leave the house with family members. She used to have activities outside our home, but due to COVID 19, she is only able to have those activities through Zoom meetings, which has really limited her access to the outside world. I wish we could go back to pre-COVID days so that she would have that access to activities and friends outside our house. She misses her singing classes and her field trips to bowling alleys.
I wrote my thesis about Rosemary five years ago, so I'm always thrilled to See more People learn about her and her story!! Thank you for making These Videos!!
As an autistic woman, this is one of the many reasons why I wouldn't want to go back into the past if I had a time machine (well...outside of maybe ancient Egypt). Treatment of disabled people back in the day was horrible. I was born during that weird gap between Millenial and Zoomer. And if I lived even 70 years ago, I could've suffered the same fate as her, which is horrifying to think about. I'm pretty thankful I live in a time period where I can get proper aid, and live a normal life. We've came a long way since then. Rosemary's story is super tragic as well. If she was a Millennial or Zoomer, she could've gotten better aid for her condition and became a wonderful teacher. But because she was born in the turn of the century when mental illnesses weren't understood, this was the outcome. I almost think it's worse that she lived to old age, since she was forever trapped in a body of a vegetable. But on the plus side, her family created a lot of organizations for disabled people in her memory, so that's good.
Stomach-turning, heart-wrenching, and expertly told. Thank you. I now have much better context for my grandparents' outright terror of psychological/psychiatric care
"genetic accident" ME edit: just finished the video, its so sad and scary to think about how mentally disabled people were treated in the past. im autistic and have adhd, i most likely wouldnt have been lobotomised in the 30s but i probably couldve been institutionalised. im so grateful i live in a time when so much progress has been made, but we still have a long way to go.
I have ADHD too, as well as severe mental health issues and many disabling physical issues. I dread to think what would have happened to me if I were alive back then. We definitely have a long way to go. I wish you all the best ❤️
This is what frustrates me when people complain about the increasing diagnosis rates of things like autism and ADHD like it's a sign that society's getting worse. It's not a modern phenomenon, they were just hidden away and no one tried to understand them. It's a sign society is improving because we at least talk about it now.
There's still a long way to go before we are completely considered 100% part of society it upsets me greatly when I see others just so judgemental somebody who's just a little bit different it doesn't matter if it's a mental disability just being a little eccentric or even the lgbtq society it's terrible and I wish there was more acceptance and kindness in the world
Jessica, will you please please do a story on Rose Wilder Lane? She's a relative of mine and I'll be happy to fill any blanks I can if you need me to. Much is on the internet about her. She was a real trailblazer in virtually every way. I think you'd be fascinated by her. She had a million and one facets to her and her mother was Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. Could make for a very rich historical vlog about a woman with a strong mind, courageous heart and pioneering spirit. She fought a lot of stigmas and was a real groundbreaker far beyond her time. I would LOVE it if you would and I think you'd enjoy researching her immensely.
I read The Kennedy Women in the the 1990's and I remember getting so angry when reading about Rosemary Kennedy. She really got the short end of the stick.
This made me cry, I knew very vaguely about her being lobotomized but this is an absolute horror story. I'm so glad that at least some good was able to come of what happened but she never should have been put through it.
Lizard the Wizard 2020 horror stories. ELECTRIC Shock THERAPY this is benig prescribed and patients se ctioned so that they have to have it. Then brain damaged are too ill to make a claim against The abusing psychiatrists
This is the saddest thing I’ve ever watched. Although I knew of Rose Kennedy being hidden away and I’d heard that she had a lobotomy; I didn’t know the story of her birth and horrors of being awake during a surgery. It’s so sad how she was treated, when all she ever wanted was to be with her family. Thank you for doing such an amazing job on this video Jessica.
Thank you for this video. As a young child I was quite interested in JFK and his family. I read a biography about the family and asked my dad about the one sister who was just not mentioned much. My dad told me a doctor did a questionable surgery and it made her very ill. I was about 8, and we talked about mental health. Now I wonder how he knew this and he knew more he wouldn't talk about. This video helped fill in the gaps.
so early wow. and it's so sad- I LIVE in america and had never heard of rosemary kennedy before. i had heard idk "rumours" that there was a mentally ill sibling, but that was the extent. thank you for bringing more awareness and ending the stigma!
I was literally in tears at the end. And tears are still running down my face as I am typing this. It breaks my heart that while a lot of things have changed, at the same time there are so many changes that still need to be made....
I'm so sad that this happened to her, but so grateful for the influence her and her family's experiences had on the world we live in today. Our understanding of the complexities of physical and mental difference and difficulties is still so rapidly changing and we need doctors and other professionals to take the lead from patients and their families and look at their lives as a whole. I wonder how different our world and medical systems would be if only people had the time and space to listen to everything and then make a decision.
Nelly luckett sadly not enough influence in America ECT is being given to children with ADHD and here in UK some hospital trusts are using the barbaric practice, and with no clinical trials... on the rise especially for women’s over 55
Wholeheartedly agree, one of my uncles was starved of oxygen during birth and the thought of him going through all that is horrifying. We're in the UK and he lived at home for as long as possible, and now is in a wonderful care home where he has a great social life, friends, daily activities, and is living his best life. He can walk better, dance (of sorts), and communicate. It's a home from home and we're so grateful for the love and care he receives daily.
Pebbles Miller ECT should only be used in extreme circumstances where in it is a last resort (ie in depression when all other treatments have bit been working) but only with patient consent. They should understand that results aren’t permanent ect. The fact it is legal to preform ECT in Britain without patient consent is horrific
My mom was a special Ed teacher (I don't know how it is known as in English) and I went to the same middle school she worked at, so I'd spend my free time helping her in her class, and since I can remember I've been around people with disabilities. Cognitive, physical or psychosocial, and just being there taught me so much. It really hurts to listen to stories like this, when you know that the disabilities someone has aren't all they are.
This makes me grateful for how my great-grandparents and grandparents viewed disabilities. I know both of my grandparents had siblings with intellectual disabilities, but they were just seen as needing extra help so that they can contribute to society. In fact, my grandmother's brother was perfectly able and happy to mow lawns, but was unable to fix lawnmowers. When he walked into the motor shop to try to get the parts to fix his lawnmower, my grandfather recognized this and he offered to fix it for him (for free on his own time). Later, he happened to meet my grandmother and, when she realized that she was the man who worked at the shop her brother told her about, she started to fall for him. For reference, my grandfather's oldest sibling was born in 1900, so this would have overlapped in time with the events in this video. In the late 1950s, my grandparents ended up having a very disabled daughter (her mind apparently didn't progress much past early toddlerhood). They hated the idea of sending her to an institution, but they realized they needed some more expertise. The institution was nice... for an institution, but my grandmother hated that it felt like a hospital and not a home. She worked with other families in similar situations to found a non-profit which buys accessible houses and pays for carers to stay there and allow people, who otherwise may have only been able to live in an institutional setting, to live in somewhere that feels like home with people who feel like family for long after their primary caregivers may have passed away. Visiting my aunt has always been an interesting experience as the residents who live with her all think they are much younger than they are. Middle aged women will insist they are 5 or 8 years old, for example, and act accordingly. Importantly, all the residents seem happy, seem to form family bonds with each other, and pursue ways to be creative and productive as their abilities allow and they enjoy.
I’m autistic and have ADHD, although I was diagnosed only at the age of 18 but have been through multiple mental health professionals throughout my life, but every time any of them said something my abusive mother didn’t want to hear, she would make me change therapists or psychiatrists. My whole life I’ve been abused for my autistic traits, my mother even accused me of being “possessed” during a meltdown and took me to see a “medium” when I was 12, she threatened to send me away multiple times (and she would have if she didn’t feel the need to have me close to control me), I’m 19 now and have C-PTSD. I feel very connected to stories such as Rosemary’s, because I’m sure if I had been born a century (or a few decades) earlier, I would definitely have been lobotomised too, what she went through was a true horror story
This video was quite difficult for me to watch at times, but I'm so grateful to you for making it. I think the world needs to hear about more people like Rosemary Kennedy. Thank you for telling me about her.
as an autistic Dyspraxic and epileptic person this was a hard watch. Antoher interesting person to profile would be racing driver of the 1950s Archie Scott-Brown, who was born disabled after his mother got measlels while she was pregnant, at least once in his racing career other driver protested his entry and wins on the grouds of his disabilities
I live about fifteen minutes from Jefferson, WI. Sait Coletta's is still standing although it's up for sale. Beautiful grounds. You can still see the little cottage she lived in. It's truly beautiful if that's any consolation to this awful story. Most people from nearby Chicago come up here for vacations to local small towns.
This was such an important video! I had only heard of lobotomy in passing and although the Kennedys were (and probably still are) not really on my radar, telling her story story of the stigma and prejudice that led to things such as lobotomy even being thinkable, let alone actually accepted and feasible, was a wonderful way to both honour the memory of this poor woman and to spread the knowledge. When you mentioned that she effectively died only such a short time ago... perhaps some things changed much too late, and some simply not yet enough.
A lot of them do know, but have a donkey tattooed on their rear ends, and God forbid they should imply the Kennedys are less than perfect. Bet they didn't say much if anything about Chappaquiddick & and dear old Teddy getting away with the manslaughter of Mary Jo Kopechne either. That SOB couldn't be bothered to stop by a house within easy view of the bridge so help could have been called. She SUFFOCATED to death. The vehicle overturned and she had managed to find an airpocket in the car's foot well. By the time a scuba diver arrived later the day after that party, her position was such that her head and shoulders were above water.
The compassionate way that Jessica speaks about Rosemary and later, the Kennedy family's advocacy for people with disability was truly incredible. The nuance of the issue and all of the factors in play are introduced with such a light touch. Thank you for taking the time to educate all of us. This video has deeply affected me ❤️
Reading these comments is very emotional. Almost all of my family has had severe mental health issues. Most have died due to it. Several had lobotomies. It’s easy to feel like society still hates those of us who struggle with these disabilities. It’s so comforting to read people’s words of kindness here.
I remember reading the Howard Dully‘s book about his own lobotomy and I was crying. I can‘t imagine that it‘s all was hapening just several decades ago.
Having mental illnesses and studying to be a mental health nurse, it is truly heartbreaking and fills me with so much rage and sadness to know people were treated so awfully. Thank you for sharing this story 💜
Thank you so much for covering this. I could barely watch the whole thing. I can't imagine researching, writing a script, and filming it. You are an amazing person.
My twin brother had a lobotomy when we were 2 and I didn't know that I was a twin until I got told by my grandmother at age 35 , I discovered that he was still alive in a state institution and got custody of him. update: he passed away yesterday of Covid-19 never knowing that I was his brother 😟😟😟
when i act out, my mom tells me that i’m “crazy” and should undergo this procedure this rosemary… yikes. i’m 22 this year and just now realizing all the emotional and psychological abuse i’m still undergoing.
The podcast “Medical Mysteries” just did a three part series on mental healthcare if anyone is interested. It’s very interesting and the sound mixing is pretty good.
Whenever I watch one of your history videos I find myself transfixed and transported to another world , you are bloody brilliant Jessica , I am not ashamed to say that i actually teared up whilst watching this video. Thank you so much for this content ☺️
I had learning disabilities and worked hard. Later when I was an adult I IQ tests done for help in college. I scored high average on one test and above average bright on the other one. Thank God my parents were encouraging me, and didn't put me in an institution, or get me a lobotomy. I have mental illness, and learning disabilities, but I am still an important person in society and definitely in my family. I'm blessed to have 2 children who are now grown, and 3 grandchildren. I have a hard fought for beautiful life. Thank you for this post.
This is so sad, I was never really aware of any of her history to the degree you spoke about it here. I remember in school solely learning about JFK, RFK and their political work and ultimate fates. I think her history was an excellent topic and thank you for the educational video.
Joseph Kennedy was a narcissistic monster who wanted nothing more than to preserve the legacy of his name even if it meant killing the soul of his first born daughter. Thank you Jessica for this video it means a lot to disabled and mentally ill people and reminds us we still have a long way to go to destigmatize mentally disabled or ill people.
Thank you for sharing Rosemary's story, I actually didn't know most of this. I am heartbroken at her treatment but so grateful to her family for creating spaces and laws to help disabled people. We still have a long way to go (it seems not much has been done since then!) but the programs the Kennedy family began have improved so many lives.
This is why I keep trying to raise awareness about the gaps our current health care has. As a Canadian, diagnosed with ADHD (possibly autism spectrum as well) at 19, there are little to no supports for me outside of university disability services. The only programs for understanding sensory needs, are for parents of autistic kids who are under the age of 4, and there are things for ADHD in school age kids, but nothing for adults, nothing for parents of teens and young adults, and I can't find a single thing about what I can do for myself, other than what's on TH-cam. I recently got diagnosed with POTS at a clinic specializing in chronic conditions and they have an occupational therapist that has been my only help along with an advisor at university, for navigating the challenges I face in every day life. But if I didn't have chronic fatigue, I would have never found an occupational therapist, let alone for free. I'm glad I live close enough to that clinic as there are only 3-5 of them in Canada, I'm not sure. But what about everyone else? What about my friends who have realized they have challenges beyond their control, what about those who self medicate and end up making things harder, and what about those who can't afford the $1500-$2000 tests for learning disabilities and and neurodiversity? I'm so glad people aren't as quick to do drastic things. My doctor first tried dietary changes, supplementing vitamins, then natural sleep aids and neurotransmitters. I'm lucky I can afford IVs that really help my symptoms, and I can afford to take my degree slower than everyone else. My dad still has some outdated ideas on mental health and "special needs," but at least he helps me get access to what I need.
Not sure exactly what it would be classified under… History or cinema, but “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” I think would make an interesting video for you to do. I did not know that this was based in truth and the creation of Wonder Woman until the first time I watched.
Owls in Old School Cinema photographer in a film critic The camera angles the lighting everything is spot on I love it keep the good work it's better to have a little bit of quality than a lot of quantity
It's interesting how much the Kennedys seemed to adore Rosemary and I wonder how they reconciled their feelings for their father once they knew what had happened...
I knew about Rosemary Kennedy's story from a while back, and I'm grateful you're bringing it forward to a larger audience. Rosemary deserved dignity and respect.
This is so so sad! I am very interested in the history of the Kennedys but I didn't know much about Rosemary. She reminds me a little bit of a cousin, and after her parents found a good school for her she was able to graduate and even became an assistant nurse and now she is studying psychology. I wonder what would have happened to her if she lived during those days...
I'm so incredibly sad. This is horrible and even though nowadays we still have a long way to go before we get disabled people the rights they need and deserve, I'm really glad we don't see this type of thing done with the ease it was done in the past. We have a huge movie here in Brazil about Nise da Silveira, who pioneered in the fight against mental hospital institutionalizations and advocated for art therapy to be used with every type of patient, from the less responsive to the most reactive and aggressive. The movie is a punch right in your guts and there are haunting scenes that still make me deeply sad, but it's important to look into these stories and learn from them so we become more aware of the way people around us are treated and how we treat others. Thank you for the video, Jessica. Your whole channel is a great source of information and I'm glad I've been a subscriber for years now.
It is so saddening to hear of such horrible malpractice. I don’t understand how any nurse who cared for their patient could forcefully prevent a baby’s birth. So so sad.
I love listening to you! Historical lives always surprise me as I realise how far we've come as a society, and sometimes how certain things just haven't changed. I'd like to add that the interruption for the commercial was quite abrupt and although I'm happy that you get sponsors, I would have preferred a small warning before the start of the interruption. :) Also edit : I just finished this video, and wow, it's really heavy.
Amazing profile. Thank you for so passionately speaking on this subject and others. As somebody with mental health disorders, learning disabilities, and social troubles, I have benefited greatly from the ADA. I cannot imagine what would have come of me in an earlier era. Now I have a college degree and job credentials allowing me to have a time job, hobbies, and a life. Thank you for your advocacy.
What a sad story. It makes my heart ache that all she wanted was to be loved and accepted by her family and then they subjected her to such horrific things. Thank you Jessica for spreading her story. I always appreciate the way you educate with your videos!
thank you for educating me on something i knew nothing about !! i feel like i've learned so much since subscribing to your channel and although history is usually not fun, it's important, and you present it in a way that even my short attention span is interested :)
I already knew her story, but it's so interesting to hear you tell it that I listened all over again. At least, despite all the sadness in her life, it brought forward some good changes. May she rest in peace, she sounds like she was a lovely person.
My father's father had a brother that was mentally disabled (no idea what diagnosis) and was locked up in an institution for life. The family never spoke of him, and we didn't find out what happened to him until when the institution closed and my grandmother saw his name on a list of names from the institution's crematorium. She claimed the ashes and buried him with the family.
Yay I got here quickly for once! And thank you for this enlightening video, I really enjoyed it (despite the slightly morbid topic). I love your historical profiles series.
The fact that, in relaying this historical information, you continually struggled to keep from cooking up. It's just ONE of the many reasons that I'm so grateful I found you. Another; YOU AND CLAUD!!!!😁🥰 You ladies are TRULY inspiring, AND enlightening! From my family to yours, we love you guys, and be safe. 🤟😘
You are an amazing storyteller. I held onto every word you said.... Very sad but enlightening depiction of how mental illness was dealt with in the early 20th century. Will definitely be following you.. thank you
@@Correctrix No? I just thought it was a comically placed advertisement that it should interrupt Jessica in the middle of her announcing that "We now resume normal programming."
@@ozia.archer8452 OK, I infer from that that you are not talking about Jessica’s paid promotion, but a TH-cam ad you happened to have seen when the video paused at that point for you personally. You need to understand that what you saw wasn’t part of the video. I didn’t see it. Even other people like you (who haven’t paid for TH-cam Premium or worked out how to use an ad-blocker) won’t have seen the same ad at the same point in the video, as it depends on where you are, etc. Your comment is as relevant to the video as a billboard ad that caught your attention as you passed by on a bus, watching her video on your phone. That is why I had no idea what you were talking about.
I just found your channel and my god you are an absolute ray of sunshine and your personality reminds me of how heavenly the gardenia bush in my front yard smells right now.
You are an amazing inspiration to so many and help give hope through adversity . Your videos on pain and migraine are so accurate and it is reassuring that its not just me! Keep up the good work and good luck with the building work.
I'm like an hour late but I want to say that I really look up to you and I think you are so kind and sweet and really hope you and everyone are staying safe 😁😊
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There was a typo on the video so I blurred it. Please skip to 15:16 if you find brain surgery icky. Sorry about that xxx
I'm happy you'refeeling better, thank you
Have you read the book Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson? An amazing read, although a sad story
lol I thought my eyes were going a bit weird. XD My brain is odd sometimes. ^_^
Have you thought about covering Sappho of Lesbos? 👭🏻🌈❣
... I am loving your sassy side camera. And hair! Mesmerized. 😍
My great-aunt had a lobotomy because she fell in love with a man from Africa and her family disapproved. Her parents were very rich and influential and she was sent to a "sanitorium" and lobotomized for it. Afterwards, she was wheelchair-bound and the only words she could say afterwards were the names of her family members. The ones who did that horrible thing to her. They abandoned her to die alone in an institution.
This is why we need to remember our past, so we do not repeat it.
@Mariel R true. This all happened in Canada, but a lot of the values hold the same. Ignorance, intolerance, hatred and judgment are unfortunately all around, especially during that time.
Oh, god! This is horrible!
I’m so sorry this happened to your great aunt . Hope your family can face this and have since learned from it
@M That depends on your definition of religious
People forget that this wasn’t that long ago at all. Thank you for hitting us with the reality that this happened to your great-aunt and not great great great great-aunt.
That doctor was a monster. He even lobotomized children who were deemed “difficult to handle” by their parents.
and he did lobotomies until 1967 when he was finally banned!
Breanna Alger happening now but with ELECTRIC Shock TREATMENT for mental illness but causing terrible brain damage for Children with adhd too.
@@pebblesmiller9026 That is not true anymore. It used to be a dangerous procedure between 40s and 60s but today ECT is a well researched treatment and if it caused brain damage, it would be banned. It kick starts regeneration of the brain. ECT patients are in full anesthesia during the procedure and current of 0.8 amp is passed through their brain for up to 6 sec. Your standard AA battery has 2.7 amp.
Howard Dully, one of his victims, wrote a really interesting book called “My Lobotomy” about this.
A.) ECT can carry side effects for sure, but not brain damage. Usually more like headaches and nausea. B.) I have never heard of it being used on pediatric patients at all or for treatment of ADHD in anyone in its current form. I would love to know your sources on this statement?
What happened to that poor woman is a horror story.
Tara still happening. Its called ELECTRIC SHOCK THERAPY. Damaging brains and lives
Pebbles Miller Will you stop? Troll
WritingSchiozo101 im not a troll . I just want people to know that unbelievable treatment is still going on
@@WritingSch ?????????????????????????????? please learn what troll means
@@pebblesmiller9026 if not via electro shock then via chemical manipulation
My uncle is mentally disabled due to difficulty during childbirth. Ironically, he is also a Kennedy. I believe his symptoms are very similar to Rosemary as oxygen was cut off to his brain during my grandmother's delivery. I am so grateful that my grandparents were not embarrassed by him. He was born in the 1950s and my Grandparents took care of him until they passed away. He is a beloved part of our family and has a brilliant memory. We treat him like we would any other person. Rosemary's story has always broken my heart as her condition is so similar to my uncle. She could have thrived if they gave her love and support instead of hiding her away and trying to "correct" her.
This!!! This is how it should be. You acknowledge their limitations but treat them just like any other family member, because they are!
When I worked in a carehome about 17-18 years ago, we had two people that had been lobotomized after WW2. One man and one woman, both in their 90s. Both of them had the full use of their bodies, could walk and take care of themselves (more than most people in their 90s), but had limited language. But it truly was like they were not there. A body without whatever it is that makes you human. There was no emotions at all. The only thing I experienced, similar to emotion, was a stress reaction to a routine not being followed. But it was also in a strangly absent way. She froze and refused to do anything. As soon as things was done as normal, she went back to being calm. I remember feeling so much anger that they could treat people like that, for having traumas. We did our best, to make the end of their lifes meaningful and comfortable. I don't know how they experienced things, as it is very difficult to tell. But I hope they at least felt comfort, if nothing else.
This is horrifying. As someone with autism, I was a little behind my classmates in certain areas. I do not know why people treated people like me in such away. 😔
it still happens unfortunately. i know a girl who had a brain surgery essentially similar to a lobotomy done in the 2010s to 'fix' her because she was autistic and nonverbal, it left her with horrific irreparable damage. it's scary and it hasn't stopped, esp with organisations like autism speaks funding shock collar institutes and bleach 'fixes' etc, canada refusing the right to marry to adults with cognitive disabilities like autism, etc... but knowing other people who are autistic, disabled, chronically ill, etc and surrounding yourself with that makes it easier to cope with the world being set against us. there's nothing wrong with us, just a lot wrong with the world. xoxo
Unfortunately ignorance exists, and when ignorant people raise children they are going to be ignorant too...It's a loop.
@@OmqSparklez How unfortunate. I did know about Autism Speaks and their whole "cure" agenda. Its so sad that an organisation that supposedly is for the help and. nurture autistic people does not have a single autistic person on their executive board. I am a fairly high functioning individual but for me to be able to work to my full capacity I need some accommodations in place. I also have bilateral hearing loss. Yet one more reason I would be considered "undesirable"
Because people didn't like different, som still don't, but I and I hope everyone i the comments do, it can be an awful and cruel world but we have to keep fighting for the right things
@@OmqSparklez I live in Canada, and I struggle with finding resources for how to get help as an adult with multiple neurodiverse conditions (and physical pain/fatigue). But I did not know about the marriage thing. Myself and my partner have different kinds of learning disabilities (not fully diagnosed due to the high cost for private, and the many year wait times for free testing) and now I want to look into the marriage thing. Thankfully university policies where we go are great when it comes to accommodations and free advising services, but I worry about when I need to get a job after I finish my degree. Will employers be able to accommodate my sensory needs? Will I need to pay another $1500 for a second 20 page report about what my needs are? I sure hope not, but it seems like unless you're one of those "autistic genius" stereotypes, it's hard to get anyone to listen to our needs.
I was born almost 38 years ago (not the 1920's), with Spina Bifida. The doctors told my mother that i'd never be independent in any meaningful way and advised her to institutionalize me. nearly 38 years later and ive done everything so far that the drs said I wouldn't be able to & am a national champion athlete.
I'm glad to read that! You won
Thank you for sharing your story and proving doctors wrong. Bravo and my compliments to your mom. The body follows the power of the mind. Blessings.
That is dope yo!!
This is so incredibly sad. She could have carried on teaching and lived a happy life if that barbarous man hadn’t have hacked away at her brain.
Lucinda 100 s of people in 2020 being brain damaged / abused by psychiatrists prescribing..... by ELECTRIC Shock THERAPY.
@@pebblesmiller9026 You understand that you cannot use that without permission and it is far different from how it once was. You are not informed and are simply trying to upset people
WritingSchiozo101 i am informed and have personal experience , 😊
@@WritingSch in most of the countries, sure. Unfortunately, there still are countries which are locking disabled people away to "hide" them and "curing" them in a ways Mr. Freeman did. China and Russia for example, altho it's not well known, as both of the countries are good at making people shut up in their own ways. :/
The ultimate villain in this case is really Joe Senior, who was a really awful person whose designs for his sons ultimately lead the deaths of most of them, and the near ruin of the last, before he died, as well as Rosemary's torture.
It kills me to know that all she ever needed was a little support, yet she was forced to endure a horrible surgery. If she had just continued studying at a supportive school she would have thrived. I'm so glad we don't trust these surgeries today, and we're beginning to be more open about mental and learning disabilities, though we still have a long way to go. Also, I was never taught about her in school. I learned about her when I read an article about the special Olympics, which mentioned the founder's sister was mentally disabled, but I had no idea she was disabled due to a lobotomy. I'm glad her family started speaking out about disabilities though. Also, I had no idea Eunice's son started Best Buddies, I know all about that organization
Maddie Tillem mentally ill patients are forced, by section of the MHA, to have ELECTRIC Shock THERAPY in the UK everyday. Its abuse and barbaric in 2020 . I know direct experience
This "Dr" Freedman reminded me of something I read a few years back. Which lead me down a rabbit hole.
It turns out, several "drs" in my area where, infact, not doctors at all. Some where failed med students, others simple read medical books and fancied themselves doctors.
What's shocking is that they were able to open surgeries, "treat" patients, and amass millions of dollars/pounds etc before they were caught.
I believed a dr had to earn the position, the title but, apparently, you can pay for it and sing and dance your way into it.
My heart goes out to Rosemary Kennedy. To everyone.
Heres to hoping for a better future. A human future.
Where was this? Has infrastructure been put in to place to prevent it?
@@maeve909 The US of course. I don't know about the other.
IPONJ that sucks :/
@@maeve909 I so want to go home to Ireland (dual nationality) but I can't leave my friends and family behind. I need a really BIG suit case.
As someone who is mentally ill, the history of the lobotomy has always held a dark intrigue. While curious about the history of the procedure, I was also obviously horrified. I knew some stuff about Rosemary Kennedy going into this video but certainly not that she was deprived of oxygen during her birth. If I know anything from Call the Midwife, that is INSANELY dangerous. This video, while not exactly fun, was very interesting and informative; thanks for it.
As regards future videos, I'd love some background on the ADA or a comparison of protections for disabled people in the US and UK. I went to London four years ago and I was AGHAST at the lack of accessibility on public transportation. "Lifts" were barely operational on the tube and the whole "mind the gap" thing made it seem like it would be IMPOSSIBLE to get around with a mobility aid.
I hope you and Claudia and Walter and Tilly are staying safe!
Yes to all of this 🙌
The ADA stuff over in the US is strange. It's very misleading, at least in my experience. There's plenty of talk about inclusiveness and the like, but in practice, it can often be easier to not go to employers about it. I've had whole smear campaigns started against me for bring in my doctor's notes to try and get them to not punish my ability to only work 15 hour weeks.
There's a great documentary on Netflix called "Crip Camp" that talks about the history of disability activism in the 60s-70s in the USA. It is so inspiring.
Mentally ill here, when I think about those times I only see death. I would have died or killed myself. I just can't, it twists my stomach.
Rosemary sister Eunice started the special Olympics in honor of her sister. Something good, unfortunately from tragedy
Oh, her husband Colonel Shriver started the peace corps.
We wouldn't need the Special Olympics if disabled people hadn't been ostracized in the first place.
Anna Elizabeth that makes no sense!
@Ali S Absolutely! She did a wonderful thing. But it would have been cool as hell not to need it in the first place.
....how??
But she never visited her
Suggestion for your next historical profile: Louisa May Alcott or Alan Turing. They were both very talented LBGT people who saw incredibly cruel treatment.
I didn't know Louisa May Alcott was LGBT+ I would love a video with more information on that.
Wait what??? I've been studying Alcott for years, and while she's obviously LGBT+ she was never "out" and enjoyed prosperity and respect in the Boston area as an adult author. Her dad was a dick who frequently made his family go hungry when she was a child, though, so she suffered from chronic pain and immunosuppression that meant she was more succeptible to illness (also she caught typhoid and was dosed with mercury). So a lot of abuse and neglect and trauma, but it was never specifically focused on her being gay. In the eyes of society, she was the spinster sister who took care of her family in their old age. Every family needed to have one.
@@emmacarter6033 same
I knew it! I knew Louisa May Alcott was gay!
@@TheRealKissyRee We don't know, she may have been trans and straight lol
The way Rosemary was described as never leaving home without family struck a nerve. Although we’ve never lobotomized my sister, who has Down Syndrome, she does mostly only leave the house with family members. She used to have activities outside our home, but due to COVID 19, she is only able to have those activities through Zoom meetings, which has really limited her access to the outside world. I wish we could go back to pre-COVID days so that she would have that access to activities and friends outside our house. She misses her singing classes and her field trips to bowling alleys.
I wrote my thesis about Rosemary five years ago, so I'm always thrilled to See more People learn about her and her story!! Thank you for making These Videos!!
Can we access your thesis somewhere? I would love to read it!
As an autistic woman, this is one of the many reasons why I wouldn't want to go back into the past if I had a time machine (well...outside of maybe ancient Egypt). Treatment of disabled people back in the day was horrible. I was born during that weird gap between Millenial and Zoomer. And if I lived even 70 years ago, I could've suffered the same fate as her, which is horrifying to think about. I'm pretty thankful I live in a time period where I can get proper aid, and live a normal life. We've came a long way since then.
Rosemary's story is super tragic as well. If she was a Millennial or Zoomer, she could've gotten better aid for her condition and became a wonderful teacher. But because she was born in the turn of the century when mental illnesses weren't understood, this was the outcome. I almost think it's worse that she lived to old age, since she was forever trapped in a body of a vegetable. But on the plus side, her family created a lot of organizations for disabled people in her memory, so that's good.
How disgusting, all for the sake of the “family name” & political ambitions for other Kennedy siblings. Extremely sad. 😰
Stomach-turning, heart-wrenching, and expertly told. Thank you. I now have much better context for my grandparents' outright terror of psychological/psychiatric care
Rosemary’s story is so devastating, I always forget that she lived such a long life.
I had no idea about Rosemary Kennedy. Poor girl, Montessori is wonderful, I wish she could've stayed there. Lobotomies are truly horrifying.
"genetic accident" ME
edit: just finished the video, its so sad and scary to think about how mentally disabled people were treated in the past. im autistic and have adhd, i most likely wouldnt have been lobotomised in the 30s but i probably couldve been institutionalised. im so grateful i live in a time when so much progress has been made, but we still have a long way to go.
I have ADHD too, as well as severe mental health issues and many disabling physical issues. I dread to think what would have happened to me if I were alive back then. We definitely have a long way to go. I wish you all the best ❤️
This is what frustrates me when people complain about the increasing diagnosis rates of things like autism and ADHD like it's a sign that society's getting worse. It's not a modern phenomenon, they were just hidden away and no one tried to understand them. It's a sign society is improving because we at least talk about it now.
There's still a long way to go before we are completely considered 100% part of society it upsets me greatly when I see others just so judgemental somebody who's just a little bit different it doesn't matter if it's a mental disability just being a little eccentric or even the lgbtq society it's terrible and I wish there was more acceptance and kindness in the world
Jessica, will you please please do a story on Rose Wilder Lane? She's a relative of mine and I'll be happy to fill any blanks I can if you need me to. Much is on the internet about her. She was a real trailblazer in virtually every way. I think you'd be fascinated by her. She had a million and one facets to her and her mother was Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. Could make for a very rich historical vlog about a woman with a strong mind, courageous heart and pioneering spirit. She fought a lot of stigmas and was a real groundbreaker far beyond her time. I would LOVE it if you would and I think you'd enjoy researching her immensely.
One of my teachers growing up was also related to Laura Ingalls Wilder, but on the Ingalls side! :)
I would love to see a video about your relative!
Sounds interesting
@@ChristChickAutistic Me too!
I love Rose! She was such an original person. So strong
I read The Kennedy Women in the the 1990's and I remember getting so angry when reading about Rosemary Kennedy. She really got the short end of the stick.
This made me cry, I knew very vaguely about her being lobotomized but this is an absolute horror story. I'm so glad that at least some good was able to come of what happened but she never should have been put through it.
Lizard the Wizard 2020 horror stories. ELECTRIC Shock THERAPY this is benig prescribed and patients se ctioned so that they have to have it. Then brain damaged are too ill to make a claim against The abusing psychiatrists
This is such a horrific story but it’s important and needs to be told. Thank you for sharing Jessica.
This is so sad :'( she deserved dignity and respect and instead was abandoned. May she rest in peace.
This is the saddest thing I’ve ever watched. Although I knew of Rose Kennedy being hidden away and I’d heard that she had a lobotomy; I didn’t know the story of her birth and horrors of being awake during a surgery. It’s so sad how she was treated, when all she ever wanted was to be with her family. Thank you for doing such an amazing job on this video Jessica.
Thank you for this video. As a young child I was quite interested in JFK and his family. I read a biography about the family and asked my dad about the one sister who was just not mentioned much. My dad told me a doctor did a questionable surgery and it made her very ill. I was about 8, and we talked about mental health. Now I wonder how he knew this and he knew more he wouldn't talk about. This video helped fill in the gaps.
Your dad likely knew because the story of Rosemary Kennedy has been a sort of "open secret" for many decades.
so early wow. and it's so sad- I LIVE in america and had never heard of rosemary kennedy before. i had heard idk "rumours" that there was a mentally ill sibling, but that was the extent. thank you for bringing more awareness and ending the stigma!
I was literally in tears at the end. And tears are still running down my face as I am typing this. It breaks my heart that while a lot of things have changed, at the same time there are so many changes that still need to be made....
I do not believe in a literal Hell. But if anyone deserves to go to one, "doctor" Freeman is the one.
Followed very closely by Joe Kennedy and those like him.
I'm so sad that this happened to her, but so grateful for the influence her and her family's experiences had on the world we live in today. Our understanding of the complexities of physical and mental difference and difficulties is still so rapidly changing and we need doctors and other professionals to take the lead from patients and their families and look at their lives as a whole. I wonder how different our world and medical systems would be if only people had the time and space to listen to everything and then make a decision.
Nelly luckett sadly not enough influence in America ECT is being given to children with ADHD and here in UK some hospital trusts are using the barbaric practice, and with no clinical trials... on the rise especially for women’s over 55
Wholeheartedly agree, one of my uncles was starved of oxygen during birth and the thought of him going through all that is horrifying. We're in the UK and he lived at home for as long as possible, and now is in a wonderful care home where he has a great social life, friends, daily activities, and is living his best life. He can walk better, dance (of sorts), and communicate. It's a home from home and we're so grateful for the love and care he receives daily.
Pebbles Miller ECT should only be used in extreme circumstances where in it is a last resort (ie in depression when all other treatments have bit been working) but only with patient consent. They should understand that results aren’t permanent ect. The fact it is legal to preform ECT in Britain without patient consent is horrific
My mom was a special Ed teacher (I don't know how it is known as in English) and I went to the same middle school she worked at, so I'd spend my free time helping her in her class, and since I can remember I've been around people with disabilities. Cognitive, physical or psychosocial, and just being there taught me so much. It really hurts to listen to stories like this, when you know that the disabilities someone has aren't all they are.
This makes me grateful for how my great-grandparents and grandparents viewed disabilities. I know both of my grandparents had siblings with intellectual disabilities, but they were just seen as needing extra help so that they can contribute to society. In fact, my grandmother's brother was perfectly able and happy to mow lawns, but was unable to fix lawnmowers. When he walked into the motor shop to try to get the parts to fix his lawnmower, my grandfather recognized this and he offered to fix it for him (for free on his own time). Later, he happened to meet my grandmother and, when she realized that she was the man who worked at the shop her brother told her about, she started to fall for him. For reference, my grandfather's oldest sibling was born in 1900, so this would have overlapped in time with the events in this video.
In the late 1950s, my grandparents ended up having a very disabled daughter (her mind apparently didn't progress much past early toddlerhood). They hated the idea of sending her to an institution, but they realized they needed some more expertise. The institution was nice... for an institution, but my grandmother hated that it felt like a hospital and not a home. She worked with other families in similar situations to found a non-profit which buys accessible houses and pays for carers to stay there and allow people, who otherwise may have only been able to live in an institutional setting, to live in somewhere that feels like home with people who feel like family for long after their primary caregivers may have passed away.
Visiting my aunt has always been an interesting experience as the residents who live with her all think they are much younger than they are. Middle aged women will insist they are 5 or 8 years old, for example, and act accordingly. Importantly, all the residents seem happy, seem to form family bonds with each other, and pursue ways to be creative and productive as their abilities allow and they enjoy.
I have a mental illness I've been to the hospital several times and knowing how people like me have been treated in the past is horrific
I adore the historical profiles you do. You always cover the subjects with such thoughtfulness, wit, and respect.
I’m autistic and have ADHD, although I was diagnosed only at the age of 18 but have been through multiple mental health professionals throughout my life, but every time any of them said something my abusive mother didn’t want to hear, she would make me change therapists or psychiatrists. My whole life I’ve been abused for my autistic traits, my mother even accused me of being “possessed” during a meltdown and took me to see a “medium” when I was 12, she threatened to send me away multiple times (and she would have if she didn’t feel the need to have me close to control me), I’m 19 now and have C-PTSD. I feel very connected to stories such as Rosemary’s, because I’m sure if I had been born a century (or a few decades) earlier, I would definitely have been lobotomised too, what she went through was a true horror story
A terrible and unfortunately familiar story. I hope you are feeling better these days!
This video was quite difficult for me to watch at times, but I'm so grateful to you for making it. I think the world needs to hear about more people like Rosemary Kennedy. Thank you for telling me about her.
I hope you're okay ❤️ its a difficult subject to tackle but so very important
as an autistic Dyspraxic and epileptic person this was a hard watch. Antoher interesting person to profile would be racing driver of the 1950s Archie Scott-Brown, who was born disabled after his mother got measlels while she was pregnant, at least once in his racing career other driver protested his entry and wins on the grouds of his disabilities
This made me cry. Poor Rosemary. Things could have been so different if she could have just stayed in the UK. What an angel :(
I live about fifteen minutes from Jefferson, WI. Sait Coletta's is still standing although it's up for sale. Beautiful grounds. You can still see the little cottage she lived in. It's truly beautiful if that's any consolation to this awful story. Most people from nearby Chicago come up here for vacations to local small towns.
This was such an important video! I had only heard of lobotomy in passing and although the Kennedys were (and probably still are) not really on my radar, telling her story story of the stigma and prejudice that led to things such as lobotomy even being thinkable, let alone actually accepted and feasible, was a wonderful way to both honour the memory of this poor woman and to spread the knowledge. When you mentioned that she effectively died only such a short time ago... perhaps some things changed much too late, and some simply not yet enough.
Aaa so excited for this one. Such an important story that people -even here in Massachusetts where every school teaches about the Kennedys- don’t know
A lot of them do know, but have a donkey tattooed on their rear ends, and God forbid they should imply the Kennedys are less than perfect. Bet they didn't say much if anything about Chappaquiddick & and dear old Teddy getting away with the manslaughter of Mary Jo Kopechne either. That SOB couldn't be bothered to stop by a house within easy view of the bridge so help could have been called. She SUFFOCATED to death. The vehicle overturned and she had managed to find an airpocket in the car's foot well. By the time a scuba diver arrived later the day after that party, her position was such that her head and shoulders were above water.
I always want to hug Rosemary Kennedy, who got so screwed over, and deserved SO much better. ♥️
She was AWAKE DURING IT OMG . This is so so barbaric and cruel her parents and this doctor should have been imprisoned .
The compassionate way that Jessica speaks about Rosemary and later, the Kennedy family's advocacy for people with disability was truly incredible. The nuance of the issue and all of the factors in play are introduced with such a light touch.
Thank you for taking the time to educate all of us. This video has deeply affected me ❤️
Reading these comments is very emotional. Almost all of my family has had severe mental health issues. Most have died due to it. Several had lobotomies. It’s easy to feel like society still hates those of us who struggle with these disabilities. It’s so comforting to read people’s words of kindness here.
I remember reading the Howard Dully‘s book about his own lobotomy and I was crying. I can‘t imagine that it‘s all was hapening just several decades ago.
As a huge fan of studying the Kennedys my immediate reaction to seeing this notification was “oh no.“
Having mental illnesses and studying to be a mental health nurse, it is truly heartbreaking and fills me with so much rage and sadness to know people were treated so awfully.
Thank you for sharing this story 💜
Thank you so much for covering this. I could barely watch the whole thing. I can't imagine researching, writing a script, and filming it. You are an amazing person.
This reminds me of when they'd diagnose ladies with hysteria.
Please tell me something happened to "Dr" Freeman
My twin brother had a lobotomy when we were 2 and I didn't know that I was a twin until I got told by my grandmother at age 35 , I discovered that he was still alive in a state institution and got custody of him. update: he passed away yesterday of Covid-19 never knowing that I was his brother 😟😟😟
Oh wow.
So sorry for your loss.
@@denicesanders4586 Thank you
@@jonstuart8351 my pleasure.
I am so sorry , what a loss. A tragic tale but this was a persons life and now your story too. Devastating to read
I'd like to see an historical profile on Elizabeth Blackwell, Rosalind Franklin, and/or Sacagawea
all three amazing women whose lives/stories were suppressed by the patriarchy
when i act out, my mom tells me that i’m “crazy” and should undergo this procedure this rosemary… yikes. i’m 22 this year and just now realizing all the emotional and psychological abuse i’m still undergoing.
The podcast “Medical Mysteries” just did a three part series on mental healthcare if anyone is interested. It’s very interesting and the sound mixing is pretty good.
Whenever I watch one of your history videos I find myself transfixed and transported to another world , you are bloody brilliant Jessica , I am not ashamed to say that i actually teared up whilst watching this video.
Thank you so much for this content ☺️
I had learning disabilities and worked hard. Later when I was an adult I IQ tests done for help in college. I scored high average on one test and above average bright on the other one. Thank God my parents were encouraging me, and didn't put me in an institution, or get me a lobotomy. I have mental illness, and learning disabilities, but I am still an important person in society and definitely in my family. I'm blessed to have 2 children who are now grown, and 3 grandchildren. I have a hard fought for beautiful life. Thank you for this post.
Amazing. You are a star in a sometimes dark world. Keep up the brightness 🙂
This is so sad, I was never really aware of any of her history to the degree you spoke about it here. I remember in school solely learning about JFK, RFK and their political work and ultimate fates. I think her history was an excellent topic and thank you for the educational video.
Joseph Kennedy was a narcissistic monster who wanted nothing more than to preserve the legacy of his name even if it meant killing the soul of his first born daughter. Thank you Jessica for this video it means a lot to disabled and mentally ill people and reminds us we still have a long way to go to destigmatize mentally disabled or ill people.
The one dislike is the ghost of that lobotomy "doctor."
Thank you for sharing Rosemary's story, I actually didn't know most of this. I am heartbroken at her treatment but so grateful to her family for creating spaces and laws to help disabled people. We still have a long way to go (it seems not much has been done since then!) but the programs the Kennedy family began have improved so many lives.
Have you ever heard of Temple Grandin? She's an amazing woman that's done so much for the autistic community, as well as animal rights.
Or maybe the HBO much lauded movie about her?
She's unfortunately very problematic- likes ABA and thinks 'lower functioning' autistics should be eliminated through eugenics.
This is why I keep trying to raise awareness about the gaps our current health care has. As a Canadian, diagnosed with ADHD (possibly autism spectrum as well) at 19, there are little to no supports for me outside of university disability services. The only programs for understanding sensory needs, are for parents of autistic kids who are under the age of 4, and there are things for ADHD in school age kids, but nothing for adults, nothing for parents of teens and young adults, and I can't find a single thing about what I can do for myself, other than what's on TH-cam. I recently got diagnosed with POTS at a clinic specializing in chronic conditions and they have an occupational therapist that has been my only help along with an advisor at university, for navigating the challenges I face in every day life. But if I didn't have chronic fatigue, I would have never found an occupational therapist, let alone for free. I'm glad I live close enough to that clinic as there are only 3-5 of them in Canada, I'm not sure. But what about everyone else? What about my friends who have realized they have challenges beyond their control, what about those who self medicate and end up making things harder, and what about those who can't afford the $1500-$2000 tests for learning disabilities and and neurodiversity? I'm so glad people aren't as quick to do drastic things. My doctor first tried dietary changes, supplementing vitamins, then natural sleep aids and neurotransmitters. I'm lucky I can afford IVs that really help my symptoms, and I can afford to take my degree slower than everyone else. My dad still has some outdated ideas on mental health and "special needs," but at least he helps me get access to what I need.
Jessy, your version of
Honey-Fitz could be Honey-Foz
She thrived at her school because they treated her like her own person, they gave her responsibility and purpose, its all most of us want.
Not sure exactly what it would be classified under… History or cinema, but “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” I think would make an interesting video for you to do.
I did not know that this was based in truth and the creation of Wonder Woman until the first time I watched.
Owls in Old School Cinema photographer in a film critic
The camera angles the lighting everything is spot on I love it keep the good work it's better to have a little bit of quality than a lot of quantity
Less is more
It's interesting how much the Kennedys seemed to adore Rosemary and I wonder how they reconciled their feelings for their father once they knew what had happened...
I knew about Rosemary Kennedy's story from a while back, and I'm grateful you're bringing it forward to a larger audience. Rosemary deserved dignity and respect.
So heartbreaking. At least her siblings did right by her in the end. They have helped so many others with those organizations and laws.
This is so so sad! I am very interested in the history of the Kennedys but I didn't know much about Rosemary. She reminds me a little bit of a cousin, and after her parents found a good school for her she was able to graduate and even became an assistant nurse and now she is studying psychology. I wonder what would have happened to her if she lived during those days...
Yesss I’m in love with history and it’s amazing that you teach us stuff that we would never had learned in school
I'm so incredibly sad. This is horrible and even though nowadays we still have a long way to go before we get disabled people the rights they need and deserve, I'm really glad we don't see this type of thing done with the ease it was done in the past.
We have a huge movie here in Brazil about Nise da Silveira, who pioneered in the fight against mental hospital institutionalizations and advocated for art therapy to be used with every type of patient, from the less responsive to the most reactive and aggressive. The movie is a punch right in your guts and there are haunting scenes that still make me deeply sad, but it's important to look into these stories and learn from them so we become more aware of the way people around us are treated and how we treat others.
Thank you for the video, Jessica. Your whole channel is a great source of information and I'm glad I've been a subscriber for years now.
These historical profiles/stories are so interesting! Also completely unrelated but your outfit is AWESOME Jessica!!! 👍💜😊
It is so saddening to hear of such horrible malpractice. I don’t understand how any nurse who cared for their patient could forcefully prevent a baby’s birth. So so sad.
Alan Turing might be an interesting story.
I love listening to you! Historical lives always surprise me as I realise how far we've come as a society, and sometimes how certain things just haven't changed.
I'd like to add that the interruption for the commercial was quite abrupt and although I'm happy that you get sponsors, I would have preferred a small warning before the start of the interruption. :)
Also edit : I just finished this video, and wow, it's really heavy.
Amazing profile. Thank you for so passionately speaking on this subject and others. As somebody with mental health disorders, learning disabilities, and social troubles, I have benefited greatly from the ADA. I cannot imagine what would have come of me in an earlier era. Now I have a college degree and job credentials allowing me to have a time job, hobbies, and a life. Thank you for your advocacy.
3 minutes in and I'm already angry on behalf of Rosemary.
What a sad story. It makes my heart ache that all she wanted was to be loved and accepted by her family and then they subjected her to such horrific things. Thank you Jessica for spreading her story. I always appreciate the way you educate with your videos!
thank you for educating me on something i knew nothing about !! i feel like i've learned so much since subscribing to your channel and although history is usually not fun, it's important, and you present it in a way that even my short attention span is interested :)
I already knew her story, but it's so interesting to hear you tell it that I listened all over again. At least, despite all the sadness in her life, it brought forward some good changes. May she rest in peace, she sounds like she was a lovely person.
wow weird I litterally had a conversation about the kennedy family this morning and brought up Rosemary's tragic life
Heard about this story not too long ago. Found it terrifying. Thanks for opening the topic and fully talking through this.
My father's father had a brother that was mentally disabled (no idea what diagnosis) and was locked up in an institution for life. The family never spoke of him, and we didn't find out what happened to him until when the institution closed and my grandmother saw his name on a list of names from the institution's crematorium. She claimed the ashes and buried him with the family.
Yay I got here quickly for once!
And thank you for this enlightening video, I really enjoyed it (despite the slightly morbid topic). I love your historical profiles series.
The fact that, in relaying this historical information, you continually struggled to keep from cooking up. It's just ONE of the many reasons that I'm so grateful I found you. Another; YOU AND CLAUD!!!!😁🥰 You ladies are TRULY inspiring, AND enlightening! From my family to yours, we love you guys, and be safe. 🤟😘
You are an amazing storyteller. I held onto every word you said.... Very sad but enlightening depiction of how mental illness was dealt with in the early 20th century. Will definitely be following you.. thank you
Thank you for telling her story. Very enlightening on the Kennedy family. Very sad for Rose Marie.
She might have been alien and criminal.
"We now resume normal programmin-" *AD!!*
Were you unaware that it was an advert until that point??
@@Correctrix No? I just thought it was a comically placed advertisement that it should interrupt Jessica in the middle of her announcing that "We now resume normal programming."
@@ozia.archer8452 OK, I infer from that that you are not talking about Jessica’s paid promotion, but a TH-cam ad you happened to have seen when the video paused at that point for you personally.
You need to understand that what you saw wasn’t part of the video. I didn’t see it. Even other people like you (who haven’t paid for TH-cam Premium or worked out how to use an ad-blocker) won’t have seen the same ad at the same point in the video, as it depends on where you are, etc. Your comment is as relevant to the video as a billboard ad that caught your attention as you passed by on a bus, watching her video on your phone. That is why I had no idea what you were talking about.
@@Correctrix Glad we could sort that out. 👍
I just found your channel and my god you are an absolute ray of sunshine and your personality reminds me of how heavenly the gardenia bush in my front yard smells right now.
You are an amazing inspiration to so many and help give hope through adversity .
Your videos on pain and migraine are so accurate and it is reassuring that its not just me! Keep up the good work and good luck with the building work.
I skip through every sponsored section in videos, but not Jessica’s, they’re just so darn delightful
Ahem, whiskey as in bootlegging I believe.
Not true but go off I suppose.
How about "Candied Ginger?" Sweet, complex, much more spicy than it seems at first, and an excellent addition to many situations.
I'm like an hour late but I want to say that I really look up to you and I think you are so kind and sweet and really hope you and everyone are staying safe 😁😊
I'm currently reading The Lobotomist, about Freeman. So I'm glad this video turned up.
Jessica, What do you recommend for a person dealing with deep shame over their own disability?