A sister’s care for her sibling is aided by a compassionate staff of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation experts
This is the poignant story of a big brother named Ernesto and his little sister, Rose. The siblings are bound together by family ties and affection, but their relationship is not what you may expect. Rose Fiel has been Ernesto Fajunio’s caregiver since 2008, when he suffered a traumatic brain injury.
It’s also the story of how Mt. Diablo Adult Education School [MDAE] has used its On Track Program to uplift both their journeys for the past 16 years.
Fajunio, now 71, was born in the Philippines in 1953. His family moved to San Francisco when he was 4. Five years later, baby Rose was born.
“Growing up, I never realized my brother had some kind of developmental problem. He managed despite his disabilities,” Fiel says now. “As I got older, though, his behavior made more sense to me. He didn’t like to socialize and he was very reserved in large groups, even with family. He may have had some kind of autism or ADHD.”
“On Track is a great program with wonderful staff. They really helped Ernesto open up and become more independent.”
Rose Fiel, Sister to Ernesto Fajunio, Mt. Diablo Adult Education School’s On Track Program Student
Fiel first took on a caregiver’s role in 2001, when their mother suffered a serious stroke. By then, she was married with four kids of her own, and worked full-time.
“Ernesto was a big part of helping me with Mom,” she remembers. “And that’s when I realized he had cognitive issues of his own.”
In 2006, her brother moved into the Fiel family’s home in Concord. Two years later, Fajunio set off for a walk on a stifling August day and collapsed on the concrete, hitting the back of his head. He was diagnosed with internal bleeding and swelling of the brain and spent months in the brain injury unit at Berkeley’s Alta Bates Medical Center.
When he was finally discharged from the hospital, Fajunio began his rehabilitation at home. His physical therapist suggested they check out On Track, located in Concord and part of the Adults with Disabilities (AWD) program at MDAE.
On Track’s mission is to help people with brain injuries by providing cognitive retraining, memory skills development, independent living skills, and career preparation and exploration.
Fajunio found a second family at On Track, Fiel says, as well as a rekindling of his joy in creating art and helping him build new confidence and self-esteem.
“On Track is a great program with wonderful staff,” Fiel says. “They really helped Ernesto open up and become more independent. He enjoys the students, the teachers, and the outings. And he especially loves the art. He’s been a gifted artist since he was a kid. Now, because of his teachers’ encouragement, it’s become a source of real pride for him.”
Fiel found something else important at On Track, too—a compassionate and skilled partner in caring for her brother.
“They are very proactive with the families—especially if you need assistance or help,” she says. “At one time, when we were short of money, they were willing to help financially by adjusting his fees.”
Another time, Fiel adds, the On Track staff helped her with paperwork so that she could obtain county assistance for her brother. Throughout his tenure at On Track, she says, the staff has always given Fajunio their full support.
“When the class seemed full, I told them I’d understand if they had clients who need it more than Ernesto,” she says. “But they were willing to do what was necessary to keep him in the program.”
After 16 happy years, Fajunio’s time at On Track is drawing to a close. His doctor sees early signs of dementia, due both to Ernesto’s age and his brain injury. Fiel is helping her brother to transition into the same adult day care facility that cared for their mom.
“Ernesto will truly miss them at On Track, but we can still pop in and say hello,” Fiel says. “They’re family for us—we know we’ll always be welcome there.”
For more information on Mt. Diablo Adult Education School’s Adult with Disabilities On Track Program visit https://mdae.mdusd.org/programs/awd
Written by Dorothy Korber
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| Bay Area California | Life Skills |
