Mental Illness Plagues the Family
Even before his parents sent the boys to the orphanage, his mother struggled with her mental health, and with lack of proper resources, she began to take out all of her frustration on the boys, which often translated to physical harm as well.
His Mom Suffered
Eventually, Curtis’ mother Helen was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and she began to receive treatment. About the same time she was given the diagnosis, his younger brother Robert was also diagnosed with the same condition, complicating matters even more for the family. Robert was eventually institutionalized.