Joan Becker, author

SAVE THE DATE! About the Book "Sentenced to Life: Mental Illness, Tragedy, & Transformation Travel with one heartbroken family as they struggle to find help for their son, face unspeakable tragedy, receive unexpected forgiveness, and deal with the aftermath of a child whose mental health issues ended in calamity . . . and transformation. Discover the confidence that buoys author Joan Becker and her family as they push for reform in the broken mental health system before more lives are ruined. Their story offers hope, help, and heart-felt compassion. Joan Becker lives in rural Iowa with her husband David Becker. They have three sons, Brad (Jackie), Scott (Nikki), and Mark. Joan is committed to following her passion to advocate for individuals who have mental illness. She and Dave believe God wants them to share their family›s story about Mark and the experience their family had of coping with Paranoid Schizophrenia in the hope that it will help other families, caregivers, and professionals understand how they can make a difference in moving forward and improving our mental health system. "Joan Becker has a generous spirit and kind heart that come forward in this book. By sharing her family’s experience she’ll help other families struggling with mental illness feel less alone. That’s a tremendous accomplishment when the illness causes feelings of isolation and hopelessness for parents who are desperate to help their suffering child. The mental health system can and should be better, and this book inspires all of us to do everything we can to make it so." U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)