Life After Brain Injury and Stroke @braininjuryandstroke - Tumblr Blog

Christmas

Christmas is the day to join my family and friends. My son, Vic and Eve live in Los Angeles. George, me, Elaine, and Dante, our dog, will go to Los Angeles to celebrate Christmas. Vic has a lot of friends. We will celebrate Christmas at his house. They live near the Dodger Stadium close to Echo Park. I enjoy the Christmas tree. Their house is close to Hollywood. There are many restaurants in Los Angeles. Sometimes, we see celebrities.

Normita C. Santore

Thanksgiving Day

George and I will spend our Thanksgiving Day with the sisters, brothers, and friends in California. Usually, George baked the turkey in our house. Our family and friends visited us over Thanksgiving. Pumpkins, desserts, noodles, and so many things. I was sleepy after eating the turkey and desserts. The next day, on Friday, I shopped, and my cart was full of gifts. I liked to shop especially on holidays. I shopped until I dropped!

I like to spend my Thanksgiving Day at home with the family and friends. Thanksgiving Day, an annual national holiday in the US and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.

Thanksgiving is one of the only times that extended families are able to come together. This is important because it provides the opportunity for family members to spend a day with one another in a intentional way.

Normita C. Santore

We Are Going To California

George, Dante, and I will be going to California on November 21, just before Thanksgiving. I am excited to join my son, daughter, sisters, brothers, and friends.

We are renting a car and hotel are ready for us in North California. I want to visit my mom’s grave. She died on May 11, 2017. My daughter and boyfriend, Evan will be visiting in the hotel. I like Evan very much and he works for his father. They live in Hillbough.

Our sisters and brothers live in North California. We are eight children and lived in the Philippines. I miss my sisters and brothers.

I am excited to see California again!

Normita C. Santore

The 10th Annual Moving Message

The 10th Annual Moving Message:

George and I went to The College of Saint Rose on Saturday, September 14th. It was the 10th Annual Moving Message. We purchased raffle tickets and got free food. We saw Mike and his mom, Jonathan, Rachel and Tom. Rachel is my classmate in Sunnyview and it was the first time they were there. We play UNO every Friday.

The speakers were Eileen Lucy, Miriam Stuart, Debbie Shoup,and Carol Moran. We all have experienced a stroke.

We saw the Moving Message Bio boards lined up by students. George and I saw the pictures of us painted by our friend Matt. We saw Melissa with her mom and other graduate students. After lunch, we all gathered together with Julie Hart for the raffle ticket winners to be announced. George and I won a wine basket!

The mission of the Moving Message is to raise awareness for common communication challenges that people face after brain injuries and stroke. We thank Julie Hart for her efforts for making sure everything came together. We had a good time, and I was happy to be at the Moving Message!

Normita C. Santore

Ellen Lee DeGeneres

Ellen was born January 26, 1958. She is an American comedian, TV host, actress, writer, and producer. She starred in the sitcom Ellen from 1994 to 1998 and has hosted her TV, The Ellen DeGeneres Show since 2003. She was awarded the Saturn Award for Best Supporting, the first time an actress won for a voice performance. In 2008, she married her girlfriend Portia de Rossi.

Ellen has hosted the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, and the Primetime Emmys. She has won 30 Emmys, 20 People’s Choice Awards, and numerous awards for her work and charitable efforts. In 2016, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Normita C. Santore

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt was born December 18, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He has received multiple awards and nominations including an Academy Award as producer under his own company, Plan Entertainment.

As a public figure, Pitt has been cited as one of the most influential and powerful people in the American entertainment industry. He was cited as the world’s most attractive man by various media outlets. In 2000, he married the actress Jennifer Aniston; they divorced in 2005. In 2014, Pitt married the actress Angelina Jolie. They have six children together, three of whom were adopted internationally. In 2016, Jolie filed for a divorce from Pitt,which was finalized in 2019.

Normita C. Santore

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was born in August 25, 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He went to Montclair College Prep School.

He formed a group called Jackson 5 in 1964. In 1971, he began a solo career. The early 1980s, Michael wrote a music videos. He was a talented dancer. He danced full of energy. Nobody could Moonwalk like him. He was the “King of Pop”. Jackson’s Thrillers is the best-selling album of all time. He won hundreds of awards.

He was a famous star and lived in Neverland Ranch, amusingly park. He died in June 25, 2009.

Normita C. Santore

Joining the Healthy Living Group

It is the first time I joined the Healthy Living Group. George and I want to go to Milan, Italy for vacation. In Italy, I want to go shopping, to the Museum, to Rome, to see Colosseum and many other things. When we go shopping, I just want to buy clothes. At a museum, we would like to see famous paintings. Rome is the political capital of Italy.

We want to eat in restaurants. We want to try different pasta and dessert. I also want to take many pictures of George and me. We want to go the Vatican City to see Pope Francis. After seeing Pope Francis, we will go to Saint Peter’s

Square.

Milan has been the fashion center since the 19th century. Is world capital of fashion and design. Milan is home of the Italy Stock Exchange. It is known for high-end shops and restaurants. Milan is richer than the US state of Massachusetts. Milan is the 11th most expensive city in the world.

Milan Duomo is nearly 6 centuries old. It is the second largest catholic cathedral in the world. The largest is the Vatican.

Northern Italy and Southern Italy eat different kinds of food. The South eats pasta, tomato sauce, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and seafood. The south is located by the sea, so their food is based on the water.

The north eats rice and corn meal, veal, cream sauce, butter, and fontina cheese.

The Flag of Milan has a Red Cross.

It is attributed to Saint Ambrose. He is also who the Basilica of Saint Ambrose is dedicated to.

Milan is one of the most visited destinations. The visitors to Milan are both from aboard and from Italy. Most travelers are there for business and some are for leisure.

July is the warmest month. January is the coolest month. August is the time to go.

The residents of Milan dress well. The wear sports jacket, neutral colors, and designer bags. Bare skin and shoulders should be covered in churches.

Sunshine drops to 2 hours per day in the winter. The highest rainfall is during November and December. There’s only snow around 7 days a year. Weather in Italy is cold and snowy in the northern mountains and relatively mild along the coast.

My Favorite Actor

My favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio. He was born November 11, 1974.

He began his career by appearing in television commercials in the late 1980s. He had roles in various television series such as the soap opera Santa Barbara and sitcom Growing Pains. He starred in his career as Josh in Critters 3. DiCaprio starred in the film adaption of the memoir The Boy’s Life, and his first Academy Award nomination for his supporting role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He gained public recognition with leading roles in The Basketball Diaries and the romantic drama Romeo and Juliet. He achieved fame as a star in James Cameron’s epic romance Titanic, which became the highest-grossing film of all time to that point.

DiCaprio’s film included The Man in the Iron Mask, the crime drama Catch Me If You Can, and the drama Gangs of New York with director Martin Scorsese. He was acclaimed for his performances in the political war thriller Body of Lies, crime drama The Departed, the drama Revolutionary Road, the thriller Shutter Island, the western Django Unchained and drama The Great Gatsby. DiCaprio’s portrayals of Howard Hughes in The Aviator and Hugh Glass in The Revenant won him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor- Motion Picture Drama. His performance as Jordan Belford in The Wolf of Wall Street won him the Golden Globe award for Best Actor - Motion Picture. He also won the Academy Award for Best Actor in The Revenant. DiCaprio is the founder of his own production company Appian Way Productions.

My favorite movie is the Revenant because Leonardo DiCaprio fight with a bear. I like him because he has many achievements and talents.

Normita C. Santore

Jim’s Story: “Don’t be serious all the time!”

I am a book lover, a movie buff, a grandfather, a husband, a playwright, retired baseball player, college professor. I played baseball at college, then stopped. Then I did softball. Then I thought, “hey I could do this again.” so I came back at my age, which was at the time 54. So then I just kept going with baseball until the stroke. My team was Albany Yankees. I almost made it to the minor leagues. I was a centerfield player and also first a baseman.

My career is playwriting. I wrote about 20 plays myself. I wrote plays for the theater. They were performed all over the country in LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Florida. I wrote in Manhattan for years and then in Albany. I had many jobs at that time. I was as you know a playwright. But when you are a playwright, there’s not much money. So I had to do a lot of jobs, for example sports coach for little kids and then I was a bartender in the village. Then I was a college professor at NYU and at UAlbany. I taught playwriting- no musicals. I taught drama and comedy. I had one job in Manhattan, I would go on a train and teach, then I would come to Albany and teach with those students, then I would go back to Manhattan, every week.

I was born in Boston. Because my dad was a lawyer. He had kept changing jobs so we moved around. New York City, Holland, Paris, London, Boston again, Manhattan, Albany. That’s where I am now. I loved Europe a lot. My grandchildren, there’s two of them. One of them is Theo, his little brother is named Vincent they live in Paris.

It happened about one year and two months ago (January 2018). With my stroke, I was on vacation with my wife in Antigua. Suddenly, I noticed something was odd. I dropped my keys then put them in my pocket, then all of a sudden they dropped again. I thought “woah that’s odd” I tried it again, and it went down again. I thought this is really odd.

Then I went into the room and sat down, went to sleep. Then the next morning, my wife said “Hi how you doing” I said “rrrrrr”. My wife, Jamie, said, “what’s the matter with you?” She said “Give me your hands, go like this” I said “OK” and gave her my hands. She is in medicine, so she knew about this. She immediately knew this is bad. Something bad is happening. So the ambulance came and we went to the doctors.

The doctor in Antigua put me on the gurney and looked at me and said we have to do tests on him right here. It sounds like a stroke. I couldn’t speak at all. We decided we have to go back to America. I got onto a plane and went to Manhattan. We got in another ambulance. A lot of doctors were around my bed and said, “What’s going on with you.” I couldn’t help. The only word I could do was a song. I knew the tune. It was the “La Marsellaise.”

Then they took me to Hellen Hayes Rehabilitation for inpatient. I was there for 3 months. I got out of there and I started at St. Rose with Julie. And that’s where I am now. Everyone has helped me here. When I started all this, I couldn’t talk at all. Nothing at all. A year later I can talk more. It’s working with Saint Rose people.

I never had problems with walking at all, no problem. Reading is a challenge for me. Writing also. Spelling terrible, terrible, terrible! Strategies I use are text to speech for spelling with my phone, iPad, computer, and Apple Watch. I use those strategies to help me with all of this. The way it goes, I sit in my office and on the table of this office I have an iPad, a phone, a computer, and Apple watch. Sometimes I use the phone, sometimes I use the iPad, sometimes the watch or the computer. I switch between them. This helps me, especially with texting and spelling. I use text-to-speech to write my plays. On my computer I have Siri.

I am writing [a play] now. It’s about aphasia, that’s the idea. I’ve written about 2 scenes so far- there will be 9 scenes and an epilogue. That’s my plan. I have sketched out the plans. Some of it, I’ll make it up on the spot and see what happens. I’ll keep going. It’s about a young person, he’s 20 years old, who has aphasia. Now he has to read and write and spell, all these things. He was an Apple computer person, because I used to work at Apple myself. So this person had a stroke and wants to go back to work for Apple. He dreams about this. I doubt that he will ever do it, but he is trying to do it. We will read some of the scenes at the Moving Message in September.

I tell people to slow down when talking to me- that works very well. Last night at a dinner party, there was one guy who was talking so fast. Then his wife was in the dinner party as well and she talked to me slow and it really helped me. Slow down is the key for me. I really like to go to the communication groups. I have one on Monday and another one on Friday. I really like the groups because I’m getting much better every day. By better, I mean that Julie and the students and the group members are very supportive. It’s fun and we have a good time. A lot of the time we laugh together. Oftentimes, we make mistakes and it’s funny. That makes me feel very good. I talk much better- much better, much better. Reading much better. I had to stop driving because I had a seizure. Then the police said I cannot drive again until 6 months without a seizure. In February, the 6 months were up and I could drive again. I’m driving now. When I had the seizure, my wife had to drive all the time and she hated it. Now I drive and she sits in the car, so it’s much better.

Writing is much better. I learned strategies to help with everyday skills. I’m understanding much better. I still cannot spell, it’s terrible. So I have to use my phone and use dictated typing.

[Giving a speech at the Moving Message] was exhilarating, it was a lot of fun. I felt proud of myself about writing it. I felt proud. It was very nice for me that my daughter came up from Manhattan and she sat right next to me. That was very fun. When I got tired, she stepped out and she said part of the speech, so I can have a breather, because I was getting nervous. So I calmed down and then I continued. And then it was done. It was fun to see all of the people from all the groups and their families. Opportunities to speak with people who have some difficulties with aphasia. People who don’t have aphasia but who support the community.

I am just like you, except that I have aphasia, which means that I have difficulties with language. But otherwise, I am just like people. That’s it.

Please talk slowly. That’s the best thing you can do. When they talk to me, remember that I am just like you, except that I have a language difficulty. Otherwise I am normal. Also, make eye contact. Look at me in my face- that works. You don’t have to talk like I’m a dummy. I just have aphasia that’s all. I’m still smart- I hope! Talk normal but just slow it down a little bit. Don’t be shy about using humor.

There are many things I want to do. I like to have fun, to laugh, to work, to play baseball. I have my friends and family, especially Jamie and Chleo. I have so much that I want to live for every day. Sometimes I feel a little depressed, but I don’t sit in bed. Everybody gets sad sometimes, but it passes and then it feels better. So I am happy usually. I’m very optimistic. I’m not pessimistic, I’m not that kind of person. I have too much to do.

I like to laugh, so don’t be afraid to laugh with me. I like it. I’m not serious all the time. I like jokes. Sometimes, with aphasia, you make mistakes and it’s funny! I can laugh about myself, also. So don’t be serious all the time.

China’s Story: “My family is everything”

My name is Maritza Alvarez, people call me China. I am fun, a photographer, construction worker, a mom, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a music lover, traveler, a motorcycle lover. I’m creative, funny and strong. [I love] scrapbooking, animals, horror movies, and Halloween. Halloween is my favorite holiday. I don’t know, it’s Halloween man! I love it, I love it, I love it! It’s fun. I used to throw big Halloween parties. I make my costumes myself.

I have 4 kids Jessica, Torie, Joey, and Jason. My family means everything to me! I live with [my son] Jason.

I was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. I lived with my parents and siblings. I have 5 siblings. Before my stroke I spoke Spanish and English. Now I understand both languages.

Seven years ago, I had multiple aneurysms that caused a stroke. When I had my stroke it went dark and I couldn’t see anything. I was in the hospital for a long time. I have aphasia. I know what I want to say but it’s hard. It’s hard to speak. It’s frustrating. So I take a deep breath. My books and iPad help. I use the story creator (an app) to share my story. I use photography to relax. I use my iPad and camera. I took pictures on my own and scrapbook them. I love everything about it. It’s beautiful.

It’s very hard (living with aphasia) because your world and everything is different. I use my strategies to communicate. I can talk more, walk more. I have more strength in my arms. I am so much stronger! I’m still working on my leg strength.

My vision on my left eye is bad, so I tell people to sit right in front of me. I like it when my partner slows down when talking to me. Repeat it, if I don’t understand. Ask me questions to clarify and make sure I’m understood.

Everything! [I like everything about Saint Rose.] It’s still hard but I feel understood here (at Saint Rose). The people help me feel understood. My friends make it a good and secure place. I come on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesdays I’m in Skills Group and Communication Group. I am making a Skelley board in Skills Group [on Wednesdays]! It’s fun. You take a bottle cap and flick it into the square. You have to go in order from one to thirteen. On Thursday I’m in Understanding Our World.

My heart, and my family- especially Jason and Rene keep me going. My family is everything.

Sue’s Story “My family is the most important thing to me. “

My family is the most important thing to me. My family includes Udo, my husband, my daughters, Julie and Katie, my 2 granddaughters, Taylor and Payton, and my 2 dogs Leo and Rania. I use self-talk to encourage myself to keep going and smile. I tell myself to think of my family. The 3 words I live by are laughter, perseverance, and compassion. I identify as an artist. I like making mosaics, photography, and crocheting.

I am from Queens, NY. In 1982, I got married and moved to Berne. After I moved to Knox, I was a civil servant in Albany for 11 years until I had my stroke.

In September of 2002 my life as I knew it drastically changed! I had a massive stroke while I was at a cemetery for the funeral of my close friend Diane’s son. I was taken to St. Peter’s Hospital and I was diagnosed with apraxia, aphasia, dysarthria, and right hemiparesis. I was there for a while. I was then moved to Sunnyview for rehabilitation. I was there for about two weeks. I was then moved into a nursing home until I could go home.

My aphasia is predominately expressive and affects my talking and writing. My dysarthria causes my speech to be slowed, slurred, and difficult to understand. I have right sided hemiparesis. That affects my legs, hands, and face. To communicate, I write key words, use my iPad, phone, and gesture to others. I have a communication card that explains how partners can help me communicate. When I first had my stroke, I could not write or use my iPad. Now I can write messages and use my iPad for communication, taking pictures, typing stories, and working on projects.

I don’t like when people guess what I’m saying. I like when the person I’m conversing with looks at me and gives me time to answer before asking more questions. I like to be given a verbal direct model when speaking.

I like coming to Saint Rose for the TBI groups because I can see all my friends. The students are my friends too. I also like working on my speech and participating in games. I come to 2 communication groups, speech group, and individual therapy. At living resources, I go to craft group, current events, financial planning and life supports, mixed media, and activity group on Mondays. Tuesdays I go to artistic experiments, women’s group, and advanced art. Wednesdays I go to injury acceptance maturation group and family matters support group. Thursdays I go to financial planning and life supports, new age art program, photography, and healthy cooking group.

[Something I wish people knew about living with aphasia is] some people with aphasia have apraxia and dysarthria as well. Everyone with aphasia is different and you should learn about the individual instead of making assumptions.

[Sue’s photography and mosaic artwork are depicted in the photos on this post]

Long trip it’s been

If you have been wondering what happened to Aphasia Alive, I took a little vacation time. Keri and I took a trip to Colorado and California. We left Tuesday February, 12th.

Keri and I went to Vail, Colorado to see my nephew, Nick. Nick lives in Minturn, Colorado. Keri and I stayed with him in Minturn. We spent 5 days in the Vail area, from Tuesday to Saturday. Nick works at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens as a manager of the grounds. Keri and I went to visit the gardens with him. We walked around the scenery of trees, shrubs, and trails.

Keri, Nick, and I then went to Glenwood in Colorado to see the hot springs. There are 11-12 hot springs. We spent a few hours there. On Saturday, Keri and I went to Estes Park. Where we went to Albert Birch Bungalow, the remains of a house that burned down in 1907. We then went to Rocky Mountain National Park on Bear Lake. There was great scenery of the mountains in both of these parks.

On Sunday, we went to Big Thompson Canyon. This is a really steep canyon surrounded by huge mountains.

Monday, we visited downtown Estes Park to buy a souvenir coffee mug with the CO flag, salt water taffy, and visited a rock shop. We walked around the town and looked at the landscapes for fun.

On Tuesday, we left from Boulder to fly to San Francisco. My cousin, Ian and his wife Mary, live in downtown San Francisco.

On Wednesday, we bought a 2-day bus tour ticket. We rode the bus around San Francisco for two hours. We had dinner with Ian and Mary.

Thursday we hopped off the bus to see the corner of Haight and Ashbury, a landmark for the hippy era. In the afternoon we took the bus to the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. I started to get a cold that afternoon ☹. We met Ian and Mary again for dinner.

Friday, Keri and I visited my good friend, Kirk, in Castro Valley, near Oakland. Kirk is our friend from Iowa State.

On Saturday, because I wasn’t feeling well, I rested in the morning, we then went to Hayward with Kirk and Jodi and their children, Harper and Ella. We visited the Hayward Japanese Garden. It was a really cool garden! The gardens were small, only two acres, but it’s an amazing place.

Sunday we rested in the morning. Keri, Kirk, and I reminisced of our college days by looking at old photos.

The next day, Monday, we went to a bed and breakfast in Fairfax, CA. Tuesday we went to Muir Woods. Muir Woods is famous for their Redwood Trees. Redwood trees can grow around 250 feet tall and about 10 feet in diameter. It is amazing to see! For size comparison, see Keri next to the tree?

On Wednesday we went to visit my niece in Fairfax, CA. My niece, Annemarie, works on a farm in Petaluma, CA. She does community supported agriculture (CSA). This is the production of food, vegetables and/or meat, similar to Roxbury farm, where Keri works. Here is a photo of the Pacific Ocean taken northwest of San Francisco.

Thursday we flew from San Francisco to Albany with a layover in Chicago. I slept the rest of the weekend. I got to see a lot of loved ones, I saw beautiful landscapes, and took tons of pictures. It was an amazing trip.

Camille’s Story

I’m Camille. I used to work at a credit union, answering the telephone. [I have two kids,] Nicholas and Kalina. I like to do crafts. [I like] artsy things from Pinterest. I like to garden. I like plants. I love lilies too. I like to cook. I like to listen to music, I like birds, skulls, flowers, dogs. I play Yahtzee and Scrabble.

I own a pontoon boat. I love boating. I love the water and sun. I went to Nova Scotia 2 years ago. I had never been to Nova Scotia before, it was my first time. I liked it.

I’ve got 5 tattoos: A sun, Kalina on my arm, butterflies, and the devil licking a lollipop.

I used to live in the Colonie area and moved to East Berne, after my accident. I live near Thatcher Park in the Albany area.

Vicky has been my best friend through thick and thin before and after my accident. We used to go garage sale-ing. I love garage sales. We would have a couple of beers [together.] She’s been my friend since the 5th grade. She lives in the Colonie area. Accident was about 10 years ago on July 15th 2009.

I [was driving] to Thompson’s Lake [to cruise] around in the motor boat. I had to pick up my daughter, Kalina. I was running late and Mike, my brother, called me and I dropped the phone. When I went to pick it up, I swerved and crashed my white trail blazer. I flipped multiple times. It was 2 or 3 miles from Albany.

I was taken by helicopter to Albany Med. My dad was there, so was Randy, my boyfriend. Tons of surgeries, 34 procedures. Tubes everywhere. I knew that was going on, but I couldn’t talk. I had a trach. I couldn’t speak because of my trach. I had the trach for 10 months. I got it out before I went home. I went to Sunnyview for 3 months, then Northwoods for over 10 months before I could go home.

I was in a wheelchair, [but now] I walk with a cane. I have right sided weakness. Back home I had to get a ramp put on my house walkway. I now had it taken out because I can walk. [I’m working on] Speech, talking, writing, and reading, and everything! It’s about to change. I’m getting better though. It has been a hard road.

The strategies I use are Google text-to-speech, and I talk on the phone with Randy and Vicky.

Sometimes I write when I cannot get the message out. I’ll know one, two, or three letters and then the rest of the word doesn’t come. It’s frustrating. [When talking to somebody with aphasia, I want them to know] don’t yell, I can hear you. I’ll ask people to say it again, repeat it a few times. I don’t have a problem [getting out of bed in the morning]. I take my 2 cups of coffee and that’s it. I play paint by numbers on my phone. I keep busy. Pinterest, I like Pinterest and Facebook.

I take cooking class & art class at Living Resources. I like to play at game night at Living Resources.

You have to keep busy. Everything. I can do it. My progress keeps me going.

I like communication group [at Saint Rose] because I talk more with friends. I like to socialize with other group members. I go to skills group, communication group, and understanding our world. [In] Understanding our world we read the news and articles. I love reading articles on puppies, sometimes.

[I also see] Tim Hiller, that’s the speech department in Slingerlands. Every other week, I go to speech we work on putting things in order.

I love to cook, but it’s hard with one arm. It takes practice. Now I’m used to it. I used to need modified cooking equipment. But nowadays I don’t need one handed boards. It took a long time. After 5 years, I no longer needed the modified equipment.

Today I made quiche with ham, bacon, onions, cheese, half and half, and eggs.

George and I

George and I celebrated our anniversary on January 31. It has been 38 years since we have been married. We ate at Justine’s for dinner close to our house in Cobleskill. I met George at Blue Shield when I was 27. The Blue Shield was the medical office near San Francisco.

We got married on January 31 in Daly City. The sun was shining and we danced in the backyard. After the wedding, we went to Mexico City for a week. We raised two children, Vic and Elaine. They went private schools. Vic graduated from the University of Southern California. Elaine graduated from the University of Nebraska. I am proud to say they are all doing well.

George is a loving person. What more could I say? He takes care of me everyday.

Normita C. Santore

The following photos include:

Evelyn and Louie

Vic

George, Me and Dante

Elaine, Evan, and Dante

John Adams City College of San Francisco

I visited my old speech class at the John Adams campus, City College of San Francisco. It was two years since I been there. Joyce was my teacher on Mondays. Judy was my teacher on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I went to computer class on Thursday afternoon.

One of the students is Joan. Like me, Joan carries a cane and had a stroke. Rick is her husband. After the class, we had a dinner at the their townhouse with Joan and Rick. Joan and Rick live on the freeway across from Bay Bridge separating San Francisco and Oakland. We had a good time joining Rick and Joan for dinner. The photos include Joan, George and me.

Joyce and Judy helped me to speak better. The tuition is free.

Normita C. Santore

Aphasia Alive! Update

This is a brand new chapter for Aphasia Alive! I hope you have enjoyed reading about the variety of experiences told by our group members. I hope you have walked away feeling inspired and encouraged!

We are starting back up again for the Winter/Spring Semester soon! We have more stories to tell.

We are kicking off the new year with a bold new logo!

We hope you enjoy what’s to come, Normita and Matthew

#aphasia #Stroke #strokesurvivor #tbi #traumatic brain injury #tbi survivors

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