One
of my favorite professors when I attended Boise State University was Pat
Shannon.
He
was a business professor and taught “Statistics.” I took two semesters of his
class. As the saying goes, “he wrote the book on 'Statistics.'”
Literally he
wrote a noted Statistics textbook. He used HIS textbook for his class.
Years
later, I joked with him saying that “I did not think that it was fair to use
your own textbook. How could I argue about bad examples when YOU wrote the
book!”
He
laughed, and said, “Well, at least you got ‘A’s’ because you were a math whiz.”
And
I was.
Math
was so easy for me. All math inducing calculus, algebra, trigonometry, statistics,
geometry, etc. was so simple.
Several
years after my conversation with Pat, I had two massive strokes. My son was in
the 1st grade, and I could not even do his homework at all.
After
my strokes, I had lunch with Pat, and I told him that “I should get a refund
for my math classes now because I cannot ‘do math’ anymore.”
He laughed, but
said, “Really? What does that mean for you now?”
I
explained that I certainly understand “math.” For example, I completely understand
financials like the College of Western Idaho financials. I am on the Board of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, and I read and review very complex financials all of the time.
I understand everything. However, I cannot “express” or “say” when I try to ask a question about math and financials.
I understand everything. However, I cannot “express” or “say” when I try to ask a question about math and financials.
I cannot calculate at all. That's the biggest frustration. I feel just stupid.
To explain further, Patricia Montemurr, Detroit Free Press, wrote an article that illustrate that I have to deal with everyday.
ABC
newscaster Bob Woodruff, a Michigan native and Cranbrook school graduate, also
suffered a brain injury that brought on aphasia when he was nearly killed by a
roadside bomb in Iraq in January 2006. Woodruff returned to the air in 13
months, but he says he still deals with the aftermath of aphasia.
Aphasia
doesn't affect a person's intelligence. People with aphasia can form thoughts
and words in their minds, but they cannot always get the words out.
"It can affect your ability to listen, to write, to read, to do gestures, to do math," says Mimi Block, clinical services manager of the University of Michigan program. "Anything that's language-based. And you don't realize how much is language-based until you lose it."
It
is still very difficult for me. So sad.
When
tried to do our son’s 1st grade math, I could not do it. Now, he is
in the 5th grade, and my aphasia is very frustrating for me. I
cannot help with my son’s homework. That is a devastating blow for me.
I
just feel so “useless” which is common for a stroke survivor.
Luckily,
my wife is a math wizard, and she helps with our son’s homework. I listen in another room. Again, I “miss me.”
There is a television show called "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" I am not.
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