Independence by Christie

Independence celebrates freedom. Freedom comes in vary sizes, from small or big but it truly feels like you accomplish something important.  After I had my stroke, I realize the little things make a huge impact. 

 

In the beginning, I learned how to walk and talk again.  But you have milestones of progress where you feel elated of even the simplest things, like cooking.  I learned how to read instructions, learned how to chop again with only my left hand.  I definitely had some mistakes a long the way, but I learned and moved a long.   

 

I organize a charity, called the Kalikie Classic Golf Tournament and all of the proceeds goes to the Stroke Comeback Center.  In the beginning, the founding fathers put it on because I had issues  with remembering how it worked.  As time when on, I helped in different stages of my recovery.  Now, I manage it all and have some volunteers that help. 

 

Making progress is a huge part of recovery and you need to remember to look around and see the impacts in your life.

Kauai 2016 by Christie

We went to Kauai for 3 weeks at the north part of the island, Hanalei Bay.  We had a blast.  We laid on the beach and snorkeled.  The weather was overcast but it didn't matter because I get burnt very easy so for me it was perfect.  The place that we stayed was a one bedroom cottage on the beach where you could hear the waves crashing.  We loved it every second!

 

I tried a new wine that a co-worker told us about. It's called Maui Blanc which has a hint of pineapple.  It's very sweet which is what I like. I also purchased Maui Splash (hint of passion fruit) and Hula Champagne (hint of pineapple). The Maui Splash was awesome and the Hula Champagne was not my cup of tea. I had a mission to ship it home. I went through the motion of searching it on-line and finding how much the shipping would cost. Needless to say, it is now in my possession. Sometime in the future, I may have a problem drinking but I will deal with it later.  😍

 

We went snorkeling a few times and saw fish and coral.  The rough waves made it hard to see many fish but we did see some.  Here is a video of fish and me and my husband, Chris: 

 

Chris videoed with his Go Pro camera.  We saw the state fish of Hawaii called the Humuhumunukunukuapua'a.   It's one of the smaller fish but it has a mind all of its own.  Chris was taping the state fish when he got attacked and the fish bit him on his big toe.  The fish marked the its territory.   Chris wasn't happy about it but he put it on Facebook telling everyone to be aware of this deadly fish.  😜

We have visited often and we will come again soon because we truly enjoy this place called KAUAI!!!

Wrapping up Aphasia Awarenss Month

Three final thoughts to conclude Aphasia Awareness Month...

30 Years by Paul

30 years ago my brain was in pain at the gym. I lost my speech, my right body, my right hand and arm at 36 years of age because of a stroke (aphasia, apraxia and paralysis). I lost my work and I driving my car for 1 year.

30 years ago, I hope 1) l would talk in sentences , would read and would write in sentences and 2) I would work again. I found words, continued with sentences, continued to paragraphs and continue the question for 30 years. Overcoming aphasia is like climbing a mountain. I worked with the physical therapist, the speech therapist, the occupational therapist while I worked. I grew to speak and to write.

Now, I have self-publishing company for stroke and aphasia for publishing books, How to Conquer the World With One Hand... And an Attitude, I do presentations, newsletters, and http://strokesurvivor.com/index.html web.

I am a Survivor by Randy 

June is Aphasia Awareness Month. I have aphasia and I am a stroke survivor. I am 5 years post and my life is getting better. As always aphasia sucks but we deal with it.

Of course everyone who has aphasia has it differently. I can run, walk, write and speak pretty well but many of my friends struggle. Again even though we struggle we never give up. 

There are times when my words come out jumbled. They come out better now but again even after 5 years they come out jumbled. Many times I have to make sure that I have sleep well and use my meds and of course eat good dietary food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

I go to the Stroke Comeback Center due to what it does for our community. Going there and meeting other people at the center has changed my life. 

God bless me everyday!! 

Finding the Center by Keith

If this a little fuzzy I take responsibility for this. I survived a stroke on November 22, 2005. The stroke left me without my speech, writing ability, and without ability to understand. I slept for about 12 hours a day, or even more.

Marta and I found out about the Stroke Comeback Center during my speech language therapy at Mount Vernon Hospital. We went back to the hospital for a period of time to see my speech therapist, physical therapist, and occupational therapist. My speech therapist mentioned the center because he had heard about the center from a friend (speech therapist) in January or February 2006. A few weeks after I finished out-patient speech therapy, I started coming to the Center. 

Marta called the center and left a message. Darlene called back. Marta and Darlene talked and I was told the I was going to meet Darlene the day after tomorrow. Marta and I went to the center. The center was on the second floor of a building in Oakton, Virginia.

We went in and sat down. Darlene come out to meet us and asked us the come with her. Darlene asked my wife about the details concerning my stroke. She then spoke with me a bit. I did not remember a thing after this conversation. She then quizzed me with a Boston Diagnosis Aphasia Evaluation, a long quiz but not exhausting. She said to my wife that I was good candidate to continue speech therapy sessions with her on Wednesdays.