Survivor 3: Franklin Davis
During his time at Willowbrook, Franklin Davis once attempted to escape by jumping out of a window. He was then shortly discovered by the guards with a injured ankle. After being caught, he explained to the guards that all he wanted was a hot meal. Davis also recalled a time where a fellow patient at Willowbrook held a razor blade to his face, and slashed him across his right cheek with it. No staff member even attempted to interfere during this conflict. Franklin says he will never forget the day he got out in November 1976. He says, 'I said, thank God… I was so happy, I jumped for joy. I said thank God I’m coming out'. Like Davide Clark, Franklin Davis has also made tremendous progress in counseling." (Padani)
"Judy Moiseff was a patient at Willowbrook Institution for 8 years. She explains how it may be hard to comprehend why a parent would send their child to a place like Willowbrook, but the reality was that they were blinded by doctor recommendations that persuaded them that the institution was a good place. Moiseff states, 'Once their child was admitted to Willowbrook, the parents were not allowed inside.There were no welcoming tours and visiting days were always held in a special room'. Although she, herself was lucky enough to leave to see her parents on weekends, many patients did not have this privilege. They would spend week days, weekends and even holidays in the institution. Moiseff also recalls abuse she experienced at Willowbrook. She states, 'One time the nurse pulled my hair because I was sick and wanted to go bed'. Even though her mom tried to confront doctors about the incident, she was dismissed. She claims the food “tasted like garbage”. Patients were forced to eat unpleasant food if they could not afford to buy food themselves. She goes on to describe the dangerous, unprofessional and unsanitary conditions of Willowbrook." (Padani)
