As St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, and four leaf clovers and leprechauns decorate the ins and outs of our communities, I found myself questioning how the word “luck” could possibly be applied to those in our Aphasia community. How can we possibly discover luck in all this misfortune…how can we turn lead into gold? Read more for ideas on how to take control over your recovery.

I think we often associate grief with death…we grieve for those who leave us physically, and are no longer here. However, grief is experienced in many forms. In the Aphasia world, I feel it is quite common for caregivers to experience grief…a lot of it. There is actually a word for this type of loss that is often experienced by our caregivers. The term has been coined “ambiguous loss,” which is any loss that’s sort of unclear and lacks a resolution. This blog shares more on ambiguous loss and provides suggestions for how we can help support our caregivers who are experiencing this form of grief.

In October, we welcomed Bryn Bowles to our staff! Bryn joined our team to help us promote Aphasia Education and spread Aphasia Awareness. If you haven't checked it out, visit Bryn's Corner on our website to hear her share technology tips that have helped her become a more independent Aphasia Survivor. We look forward to seeing all of Bryn's advocacy ideas come to life! She has been a wonderful addition to our team!

Our INTENSIVE online Aphasia therapy program continues to grow. We have completed 5 intensive sessions and have 2 more scheduled over the next few months. If you or your loved one are interested in our program, you can fill out our online application. You can also view a video of one of our patients sharing her experiences with the intensive program, as well as her mom's perspective of how our program was different from others and furthered her daughter's progress.

We were lucky enough to have 3 guest speakers participate in our group sessions since the new year. First, Darlene Williamson, President of the National Aphasia Association (NAA), discussed new programs the organization will be offering and how we can get involved. Then, General Michael Hayden shared his personal journey with Aphasia, discussed how the Stroke Comeback Center has been crucial in his recovery, and even received a few tips and advice from our very own group members. Finally, Megan Sutton joined us to give an overview of and demonstrate how the Tactus Therapy apps can be used for home practice. Thank you to all our speakers who took time out of their busy schedules to meet with our group!