Because our parents had bailed out on him early on and retired to Florida, I was his caretaker and advocate during these years. His first major psychotic breakdown occurred when he was 19. By the time he was hospitalized at the Bronx Psychiatric Center, formerly known as Bronx State Hospital, in 1997, it was the consensus of the staff there that he would probably have to live in a state hospital for the rest of his life. But Dr. Alvin Pam, the director of psychology at Bronx State, disagreed, and within a year of treatment under his direction, a seeming miracle occurred. In perhaps the clearest sign of his improved mental health, his sense of humor returned.

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