Lucky Me

I was lucky. I had long-term disability insurance that paid for my private speech pathologist services in the hope that I would be ready to work in 6 months and clear their books. And, when it was decided that I wasn't ready to work in 6 months, my insurance case was closed for language treatments, for now.

BUT, language skills take time!
So, much for my thinking that after my stroke, I would go to work again in about 1 month.
Now what....?

So, I will see if I vision for aphasia treatment can work for me. But, my vision needs publically funded resources. If you are in the same boat, "talk" (communicate) or get one of your family or a friend to talk for you.

Does your MLA know what aphasia is?
Does she/he know how many constituents have aphasia?
Does she/he know what aphasia services there are in our Country, Province/State and your region?
Does she/he know how long language programs take for you to recover aphasia?
And, how much energy and motivation it takes to work on language skills when you are plunged back to childhood? IT'S HARD!
Does she/he seem interested to learn more about aphasia and NEWER treatments?
Does she/he interested in you having the support to recover enough to go back to work?

It's sad that most people aren't interested in aphasia, UNLESS a partner, family member or a friend struggles with their relationship to them. They see your struggle to communicate:
- feelings,
- point of view,
- wit,
- intelligence,
AND understand you!

Where is that &*$#&!@ key to unlock that language door? There's no key. We have build our communication skills again.


Time that it took to write this: 2 hours
(I do this as my language recovery. When I can do this good enough to go back to work...the time that it takes to explain in written word is a part of it.)
USE IT OR LOSE IT!

Neuroplasticity after Stroke

It used be that people thought the brain was hard-wired or fixed for life. If you had an injury to your brain (e.g. stroke and trauma), that was it....brain cells could not be replaced or the brain alter it structure to function if it was damaged. Now, that's changed, or the way that people thought about the brain changed.

The brain is plastic...capable of change! You probably heard the term "the plastic mind of a child" BUT now we know that the adult mind is plastic! AND, that's good news for me and everyone that had a stroke or traumatic to the brain. This is a good time to have a stroke (well, not really...but better now then 10 years ago).

Neuroplasticity takes time, patience, rest, a sense of humour, motivation and PRACTICE!!!!!!

If you have aphasia, get a good speech pathologist....the sooner the better. AND, get her/him to work you hard! Be motivated to be the best you can. II have a friend who told her husband that if she had a stroke, he should call 911
AND Betsy Allard.

was very lucky to have Elizabeth (Betsy) Allard to work with me. She was a woman with a whip!

I have been in an intensive language program in my home since January 2009...6:00 to 4:00 Monday to Friday. Square and I named program "Betsy Language Boot Camp" :). Betsy designed my program and it was hard and getting harder! But, I felt honoured to work with Betsy. It was well worth it and I'm proud to be one participant of Betsy's Language Boot Camp.