36 Faces – 36 Years – 36 Dollars

 
At 84 years young, Pitrona has the distinction of being the senior-most senior receiving TURN services. The second child of Bulgarian immigrants, Pitrona was born on August 26, 1926 in Bingham City, Utah. At age 6 or 7, she was sent to the Utah State Training School but later returned home to her family in Farmington where she attended elementary school. During her junior year of high school, Pitrona began running away and exhibiting aggressive behavior. Her physician recommended that she “drop out” of school. After Pitrona’s father died in 1946, she became increasingly aggressive and unmanageable and, at age 21 was committed to the Utah State Hospital where she remained for 7 years due to “severe behavioral problems.” In 1954, she was released in the care of her mother, with whom she lived for the next 24 years. After her mother died 1978, Pitrona was moved to the Clearfield Home and Training Center, where she attended Davis County Developmental Workshop during the day. In 1980, she was transferred to TURN’s Weber Vocational Workshop where, with an early diagnosis of “mild retardation,” Pitrona performed well at work and during activities. In 1982, Pitrona experienced a significant life-change when, at age 54, she moved from a care facility to TURN’s first Ogden group home. With medication, and the support of day training and residential staff, Pitrona learned to manage her aggressive behavior, and to relax and express herself through dance (“Jazzasizer” class), cross-stitching, crossword puzzles and word searches, and reading. Today, 28 years later, Pitrona attends TURN’s Clearfield day program, and enjoys living in the beautiful, new TURN Ogden group home with her housemates and feline friend, Kiki.