To rehash from the previous news article written by Michael Mixerr for Mixerr Reviews called “What happened to Billy Calhoun from the Children Of Darkness documentary?”, some words have been changed upon request from family members.
Things have changed. Billy has undergone several behavioral interventions and therapy sessions. Some of his phases eventually passed. The lobotomy and shock therapy never happened. As a result, Billy Calhoun now receives 24 hour care around the clock at South Beach Psychiatric Hospital and is heavily medicated by fair amounts of drugs. He is well cared for.
The self-injurious behaviors and self-destructive behavior is still evident and present. Just to a level that lets him function to the point where he can function to be not as aggressive or dangerous as he once was earlier in his lifetime.
William Calhoun (Billy Calhoun) was featured in the 1983 documentary film called Children of Darkness. Children of Darkness was a documentary produced and written by Richard Kotuk which focused on juvenile psychiatry, the emotionally disturbed, and health care in America.
Billy Calhoun was the patient who was hurting himself so badly from his self-injurious behaviors and being escorted by orderlies around the hospital at the very beginning of the Children Of Darkness documentary. Billy Calhoun was another star of the documentary as he was featured all over the place in regard to this documentary. Richard Kotuk focused a portion of his time filming Billy Calhoun due to his strange behavior. Billy Calhoun has a profound case of severe autism.
The Children of Darkness documentary was broadcasted nationally on television in the United States on PBS that same year. The Children of Darkness documentary explored the lack of mental health care in America for juvenile psychiatry. Many seriously emotionally disturbed youth were shown. Richard Kotuk filmed and directed Children of Darkness documentary. (Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTCSfx47R1w)
William Calhoun (Billy Calhoun) was born in 1963. At the age of 4, he was labeled severely mentally retarded. He was then later diagnosed with autism. As a child, Billy was suffering from severe autism. His severe autism caused him to act out in an aggressive manner as he was dangerous around others and himself. His family could no longer handle him or his dangerous destructive behavior. His self-injurious behaviors worsened as he acted more aggressive towards others.
At the age of 7, he was placed in a state institution called Sagamore Children’s Hospital. His mother, Mary Calhoun, saw him every week until she died.
A news article from the Boston Globe referred to Bill Calhoun as an abusive child. He had reportedly beaten himself on every part of his body. (Ref: Boston Globe, Page 67, Wednesday, May 4, 1983)
“A self-abusive child, he has beaten himself on every part of his body, torn at his body with his hands and smashed his head to the point of detaching his retina. You'll hear his mother ask tearful, painful questions. "Why is this child? Why did God create him? That's all I've ever wondered. You know - what does it mean? It has to have a meaning. Everything has a meaning. What is his meaning? Why is Billy here? I don't know." This may be the most shocking segment.”
During his stay as a patient at the Sagamore Children’s Hospital, Billy underwent intense therapy while being in restraints for 2 ½ years long. Every 2 to 3 hours, Billy would be “walked” by orderlies around the hospital so his muscles would not atrophy or deteriorate. Billy had attacked hospital staff and orderlies in the past. Most of the time he was strapped to his bed at the time. He was in a state of constant panic being unaware of what was going on around him. (Ref: http://www.psychiatricsurvivorarchives.com/phoenix/phoenix_rising_v4_n3_n4.pdf)
When he was 19, he was transferred over to South Beach Psychiatric Care Center in Brooklyn, New York. He stayed at that hospital for 15 years before being transferred to South Beach Psychiatric Hospital just miles away. He is currently at South Beach Psychiatric Hospital. (Ref: https://moviechat.org/tt0085329/Children-of-Darkness/58c73f036b51e905f66d513b/Available-on-Video-DVDVHS)
He's lucky to be well cared for as he can't function much better. He has caring staff day and night.
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