WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers BUSY WITH HER BOYS- Meggin Hollister Hagendoorn poses with her sons Jonathan, 4, and Logan, 16 weeks, in their Simi Valley home. She is co-organizing the second annual Silver Ribbon Gala to raise money and awareness for mental health research. Meggin Hollister Hagendoorn was just 12 in 1977, the year her 15yearold sister, Annick, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Once a high-performing student who was twice voted class vicepresident, Annick suddenly began to demonstrate unusual and risky behavior that her parents first interpreted as typical teenage rebellion.

Meggin and eldest sibling John shared their parents' perception that their sister, Annick, was simply searching for attention. But ditching school and wild partying were precursors to more serious examples of Annick's rapidly changing personality.

"I still remember the night when my parents were called to pick up Annick from a party because she was howling at the moon, disturbing neighbors," said Meggin, a Simi Valley resident.

Everything came to a head one night at the family home when Annick, tormented by frightening hallucinations, slit her wrists as her younger sister looked on.

"I was mostly confused by the change in my older sister, who I worshipped. Later, fear, anger and sadness became part of the mix, but now there is happiness that she is enjoying her life again," Meggin said.

Initially, both Meggin and John handled the dramatic change in family dynamics by focusing elsewhere.

John, then 18, left his troubles behind when he entered college. Meggin busied herself with school. But as parents, Hal and Patsy Hollister of La Habra Heights could not escape the troubles.

"We were totally overwhelmed," Hal said, "but were fortunate that the first psychiatrist we saw in La Habra had a very biomedical view, which in the 1970s was unusual. We never blamed ourselves, but rather saw schizophrenia as a biomedical illness. This young psychiatrist reinforced this in us."

In their search for answers and support for Annick, the Hollisters discovered NARSAD- formerly known as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression- the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research. Hal is a board member emeritus of the organization.

"While learning more about our daughter's disease, we found that Annick's mental wellbeing improved while creating art," Patsy said. That discovery eventually led the Hollisters to found NARSAD Artworks, an Orange County-based offshoot of the organization, which sells pieces of art created by and on behalf of individuals suffering from mental illness.

"The Hollister family exemplifies the personal dedication of so many people who have been associated with NARSAD over the years," said Stephen Doochin, executive vice president of the national group. "They have taken their own family situation and, through NARSAD and NARSAD Artworks, worked to improve the lives of millions who suffer with mental illness and their loved ones who care for them."

John and Meggin also became devoted to mental health issues.

John has been appointed to NARSAD's board of directors and also serves as CEO of EEG Spectrum International, which provides software that helps clinicians treat individuals with a range of brainrelated disorders.

Meggin pursued a PhD from USC in clinical psychology and found a link between schizophrenia and Rh incompatibility.

"Initially, my parents feared that Annick would have a marginal life with schizophrenia because she had such a severe form of the illness," said Meggin. "However, when she was finally put on the atypical antipsychotic clozaril (clozapine), the first medication that treated her effectively, her life improved vastly, and she's now engaged in her artistic endeavors and leading a semi-independent life in a house in Eagle Rock."

Meggin, who moved to Simi Valley this year, had earlier volunteered to co-chair a two-day benefit for NARSAD at UCLA in December.

The responsibility brought unexpected challenges.

"I had just gotten elbow-deep in the planning of NARSAD's gala when I discovered I was pregnant. Problems with previous pregnancies had led me to believe I wouldn't have more children," said Meggin, who with husband, Michiel, have a 4-year-old son, Jonathan. "We were thrilled to learn of the pregnancy, but then the reality hit that I was responsible for organizing an event that is supposed to attract between 350 and 450 attendees."

With baby Logan just four months old, Meggin said finding time to do work on the upcoming gala hasn't been easy.

"I may not be getting much sleep these days, but it gives me a lot of time to consider what needs to be done," she said.

Meggin is currently overseeing a group of more than 20 volunteers who are working to raise awareness of NARSAD and the need for brain disorder research.

"Annick's illness gave us a sense of purpose," Meggin said. "Years later, having my own children reinforced the reason why we're so involved in this organization. Through education and research we can break down stigmas about mental illness and find cures for future generations."

NARSAD's two-day event kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 2, with an educational symposium at UCLA featuring experts on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and early onset psychosis.

The gala is on Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Beverly Hilton. Dr. Drew Pinsky, best known as "Dr. Drew," will be the master of ceremonies.

The symposium is free to the public; tickets for the gala are $350 each. To make reservations for either event, call (310) 996-1188.

For more information, visit the organization's website at www.narsadsocal.org.