A Son’s Recovery, A Mother’s Relief, and the Safety Net That Made It Possible

Mary Beth Koniarski lives in Lawrence Valley, Pennsylvania, with her husband and their adult son, Adam. For more than a decade, they have shared not just a home but the daily challenges and triumphs that come with living alongside serious mental illness. And through it all, Medicaid has been the lifeline that has helped keep their family together. 

“When we moved here, my husband and I applied for Medicaid for Adam,” Mary Beth explains. “He lives with a mental illness and is not able to work due to his disability. Without Medicaid, I don’t know where he or we would be.” 

Over the years, Medicaid has covered Adam’s psychiatric hospitalizations, access to critical mental health professionals, and enrollment in the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program. Through ACT, Adam received consistent care from a psychiatrist, therapist, job counselor, and housing specialist. These services, Mary Beth says, were nothing short of life changing.

“My husband and I are retired. We could never have afforded this level of care on our own.” 

After nearly a decade of being unable to leave the house, Adam has found stability. With support from Medicaid and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, he now has a part-time job. He’s on the right medication, drives himself to work 40 minutes away, and returns home to take his meds on his own. Mary Beth says she still marvels at the change. 

“It’s not the job we thought he would have, he was on track to become a CPA before his diagnosis, but it’s a job he chose. He empties parking meters for the town. It gives him exercise, social interaction, and pride. He’s up in the morning. He’s out in the world. He’s living again.” 

For Mary Beth, the difference is emotional as well as practical. 

“There was a time when Adam sat alone, unresponsive, isolated, with no future. Now, when we attend family events, he’s engaged, he’s talking with his siblings. His brother sees the difference. We all do. We see signs of the Adam we knew and loved returning.” 

But the gains they’ve made are fragile. 

“If Adam were to lose access to Medicaid—even for a month—we’d be back in crisis,” Mary Beth says. “His medications are expensive and essential. Without them, he would return to a terrifying place of hallucinations, paranoia fear. We’ve been there. We’ve had to call the state police. He’s been hospitalized against his will. I never want to see him, or us, go through that again.” 

Medicaid has made all the difference. 

“It has returned our son to us. He’s not cured, but he’s stable. He has purpose. And we have hope.”