52 pages 1 hour read

Pete Earley

Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2006

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Part 3, “Mike’s Story: 4”-Chapter 20Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3: “‘A Damn Cruel Disease’”

“Mike’s Story: 4” Summary

As Mike’s attorney tries to reach a deal with the prosecutor, Mike enters treatment. The owners of the house Mike broke into, however, won’t back down from wanting him to plead guilty to the two felonies. Meanwhile, as he awaits trial, Mike has stabilized and finds a part-time job to pay his hefty medical fees, but he quits after a few weeks, not feeling ready to handle employment on top of his treatment. When Mike’s new court date arrives, a new opportunity for a plea bargain arises, and Mike pleads guilty to two misdemeanors rather than a felony. Earley allows himself to consider the perspective of the family whose house was broken into, feeling sympathy for them as victims as well as for his own son.

Mike switches medications and gains renewed energy. He decides to look for a job again but realizes he sometimes has to disclose his record of misdemeanors and bipolar disorder. Both Mike and Earley realize that, despite already having overcome many hurdles, Mike’s life will never look the same as it did before his diagnosis.