Member stories

Priscilla

Hello, my name is Priscilla. I am 84, and in 2023, I had a hemorrhagic stroke. I had been living alone in Santa Barbara, very independent, with a life full of travel, work as a special education teacher, and many different sports. Fortunately, I had many friends and an independent living facility that supported my dramatic change in life.

One of the most helpful tools that came along was being introduced to the Aphasia Center of California. I didn’t even know what aphasia was! A therapist in Santa Barbara suggested I check it out, but I really had no idea what the Center did. Through these new connections, I’ve met others with aphasia and joined three groups: the Book Club, the News Forum, and a weekly Conversation Group.

The incredible leaders, Sue and Lyssa, have helped me move forward and learn more about the changes in my life. Since I don’t live near the Center, online access has been essential. I hope the Center can continue to reach more people throughout California, especially in Southern California, because patients, doctors, and therapists need to be more informed.

My groups and the women who lead them have helped me adjust to my new life and to challenges that come up, and they’ve encouraged me to do so with a positive outlook. I cannot read, drive, have in-depth conversations, do math, or maintain good balance.

I can write, as evidenced here, but I can’t read what I write! All of that aside, I can talk with friends, make new friends, play bocce, walk for miles through Paris with my family, listen to the news, listen to books, attend concerts, and reach out for help.

Through the Aphasia Center, I’ve learned how others with aphasia manage their lives. We all have different issues, strengths, and challenges, and we encourage one another. The people I have met in my groups are bright, caring, supportive, and choose positivity.

Peter

I had a stroke in March 2022. I couldn’t work, so I focused on getting better. I made progress in speech therapy, but I wanted more, and I knew that I needed to work on talking.

My wife and I heard about the Center, and it’s instrumental in my recovery. I was nervous when I started, because my aphasia was severe, but I quickly realized that I was in friendly company.

I’m in three groups: Conversation, Book Club, and Young Stroke Survivor Group. Everyone is nice, we’re all in the same boat, and we’re all rooting for each other. Anybody can be affected by aphasia, and the groups at the Center show how diverse they are. But we all have common ground because of our aphasia, and the Center provides community and camaraderie.

Mariana

I had my stroke in January 2024. I felt miserable.

When I joined 3 groups at the Aphasia Center, I felt really positive.

Ernie

I had my stroke at 52 years old. I had a wife and 2 boys in high school. It was the beginning of COVID, and it has now been 5 years of recovery. I still have very limited use of my right side.

I was a west coast regional manager for wine and liquor sales, and before that, I was a football player at Cal, NFL, the World League, and CFL. As an athlete, I was used to recovering physically, but aphasia was a whole new challenge.

I joined ACC right when I came home from rehab, and I couldn’t say a word. I remember Giti writing down what I was trying to say. The group was so patient, and now I find myself at times being a bridge between the new patients and the speech therapist.

I believe that talking every week has really helped me get back close to where I was. The main thing with conversing is, I do better seeing the person on FaceTime or Zoom. I can now speak at stores, appointments, pay bills, make reservations and even cook dinner. Most importantly, I recently got my driver’s license back! I have a van with an adaptive pedal, and I’ve taken long drives on my own.

My words of wisdom are to keep at it. You are slowly getting your words back, so keep practicing. Some apps that have helped me are: Lingraphica, including Small Talk and Apraxia Therapy. By the way, I still beat my buddies on Words with Friends and Wordle! (they hate that)

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