My Aphasia Journey

Today marks my three year anniversary of my stroke.No flowers,no cake,no anniversary dinner.Just the understading my life will never be the same.I try to look at the good things. Three years ago I was in the hospital with tubes in me and I could not talk.Now I can talk but my aphasia is there.I can say with first hand knowledge it could be far worse. Two years ago I started to dive again and I could go to the store I could drive to Brooks .That made a of world of difference. One year ago I moved into our new house and I started to walk. A lot. So I try to focus on what I gained(new friends,healthy diet) and not what I lost.

Before my stroke I enjoyed reading.After my stroke reading is almost impossible.I Gooogled books for adults with aphasia and there is not alot to chose from. A few months ago my wife bought for me The Outsiders. Hopefully I can read it.I will let you know.

I do not remember having my stroke. My thought was I in a hospital,my arms are tied to bed and I do not recall how I got here.NOT AGAIN!! Forty years prior I found myself in the similar situaton after being hit by a car.But I knew this far worse.Somewhere off in the distance the song High Hopes my Frank Sinatra played over and over.I am a fan of old blue eyes but for love of God !! When the nurse finally checked in on me I wanted to say TURN OFF THAT XXXXX SONG!! But I could not and thats when I got scared. When they told me I had ashasia my first reaction was what is that.Like most people I did not what asphasia is. Well now I do and with help my family I will get though is. I still hate that song.

In my last post I failed to credit all the wonderfull staff working at Brooks Rehadilition Aphasia Center .The members who attend BRAC have various types of aphasia and the staff tries to incude everyone. Members attend two days a week from nine until two and offered multiple topics to chose. Current events,book club,music just to name a few. Each topic runs for a hour so day flys by. They also offer one hour Zoom meetings three a week and had people from the world join the call. BRAC also offers a six week Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP ) .Members attend five days week one on one with a staff member.I met Colman Watson there. Now Colman is running Senate.

After two weeks in the hospital I was transferred to Brooks rehab .There I spent two weeks of speech, physical and occupational therapy before I was sent home for outpatient therapy . After I was home Brooks offers an outpatient service that is outstanding. I can ‘t say enough about Brooks. Everybody that I saw was fabulous Most insurance only covers a set amount of visits for outpatient services, mine was twelve. After that you are on your own.Twelve one hour visits is not enough. I can not explain what Aphasia feels like, I can not find words(I still have my sense humor). Luckily Brooks offers a Aphasia Center where people with aphasia can go two times a week. There others with Aspasia meet and talk a about various things.

My name is John McRae and my aphasia journey began Feb. 19 2019. I massive stroke and my changed my life forever. started this blog for own therapy and others with aphasia My goal is post several a weeks