Building the Stairs: AJ’s Story of Strength and Healing

At twelve years old, AJ felt trapped inside his own mind. Intrusive thoughts filled every moment, and everyday tasks—getting into a car, walking into a room, trying to fall asleep—became overwhelming. His parents were terrified. “We didn’t even know what OCD really was,” his mom, Bonnie, recalls. “I thought it was about neatness. I had no idea it could look like my child drowning in thoughts he couldn’t escape.”

When they arrived at Bradley Hospital, the family discovered something they didn’t know existed: research‑informed care designed specifically for children with OCD.

AJ first enrolled in the IMPACT study, receiving exposure and response prevention (ERP), the gold‑standard treatment for OCD, delivered by a licensed clinician. Step by step, he learned to face fears and resist compulsions. Later, he joined NExT, a study exploring whether ERP combined with gentle, noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could further strengthen results.

“It was the hardest thing we’ve ever done,” Bonnie says. “Not being able to comfort your child—it broke me. But AJ was so strong.” His care team noticed too, nicknaming him “the Jedi” for his bravery during exposures. “You have to build the stairs one at a time,” AJ says. “Every time I did, I felt like a Jedi leveling up.”

Over the following months, AJ achieved milestones that once felt impossible: riding in a car without his mom, sleeping alone, even traveling out of state. “Now,” he grins, “I have room in my brain for other things—like starting a business someday.”

Today, AJ is thriving. His journey isn’t linear, but he has tools, confidence, and a future he couldn’t see before. For his family, the gratitude is immense.

“The end goal is better than the pain,” Bonnie shares. “Bradley, and the research that happens here, gave my son his life back.”

Make a gift of gratitude

Share your story