Every stroke is different. Each survivor finds ways to deal with issues left behind by the stroke. In these writings, members reflect as several recovery challenges.
 

Aphasia
By Irene Sharpham

And I turned to poetry
Feelings, emotions, sounds
Tumbling from my brain,
Released and eager to find a new home outside
Communication

Verbs, nouns, adjectives
I always liked words
Their formations, derivations and pronunciations
As if I am starting again from scratch
A new language
Aphasia

Thoughts flit in and out
I must remember them
The secret to being sane
Captured in my mind
Write them down
Or they are irretrievably lost

I used to feel isolated
But the true word is aloneness
Encompassed four facets of
Creativity, resting, healing and serenity

My mind is divided in compartments
Silent
Thinking
Memories
Perfect peace

Living with aphasia
Is part of my life
Now extricably linked to my destiny.
I breathe aphasia every living minute
Of every day.
 

My Silent Cry
By Jean Riva

“A complete sentence, please!” I say
And I see it in his eyes
A promise on a wing
But the words can’t make it to his lips.
They are lost
And yelling, “Which way is out?”

I scream back!
Silently of course
“Go around the aphasia,
Crawl underneath apraxia!
Don’t be shy---
Come out come out, wherever you are!”

My silent cry echoes between our eyes
But his words are lost
Like a little lamb in the forest
Waiting in fear
For the wolves of night to come
And rip its belly open.

I see him here beside me but is he gone
Like his words, words, WORDS?


Coping with Memory Loss
By Debra Mathews

After saying “I forgot” to my husband several times, I realized that if I wanted to become my old dependable, reliable self, I was going to have to do something. I started writing everything down.

With no coordination, my handwriting looks like a 6 year olds and I have to write real carefully for even me to read! I have Post-its all over the place with just short stuff on them. For longer sentences, I use my computer or my typewriter. I have Note Pad and Word Pad in my computer, and if I’m feeling real foggy, I’ll open up Word. I go through a lot of paper and ink. I have a lot of documents in the My Documents folder - from my diet that I’m suppose to follow to copies of letters.

I have three dry eraser boards, one on each side of my fridge. They are handy for jotting down the grocery list. I don’t do anything with the oven without writing down a “take out” time.

If I need to be reminded of a time under an hour, I use my kitchen timer. If it’s over an hour, I use an alarm clock. I’ve missed the first few minutes of TV shows because time got away from me. Now, with TIVO on my bedroom TV, I don’t have to fret.

I have a calendar on my fridge that I can easily see. Each morning, I cross out the day before, so I don’t get mixed up. I have the top unbound, so I can easily insert a page into my typewriter. I also use the calendar in my computer. I have birthdays, anniversaries and other events on it. I have several household chores I do monthly, like run vinegar through the coffee pot. I know I won’t remember if 30 days has past. So, I’ve set them up as a reoccurring appointment. I set reminders on everything I enter. I set different colors for different categories.

I have always put things in the same place, so they don’t get lost. I don’t have to say “Now what did I do with that?” It’s bad enough wheeling into a room and then saying “What did I come in here for?” I’ve fussed at hubby for distracting me which causes me to totally forget what I am doing. My poor brain can only handle one thing at a time. I’ve tried multitasking again, but I can’t do it. There are no more quick decisions. I have to think something through, and when I do make a mistake, like only putting one scoop of sugar in the tea when I’ve put in two for 20 years, I just say “Blame it on the stroke!”