Skip to main content

Invisible Brain Scars

Yesterday, I attended the Idaho Aphasia, Apraxia, and Dysarthria Support Group at Saint Luke's in Meridian, Idaho.

After the meeting, to a fellow stroke survivors and I had lunch at the cafeteria. It was very crowded and we asked a older man to share his table with us.

We explained that we are stroke survivors. He asked about each one of us.

He looked at me and said, "You look completely fine."

His tone of voice said it all. "Really. Get on with your life. You're just fine."

The stroke survivors laughed. I said, "Yeah. I'm not paralyzed like I was. But I have many deficits like aphasia. I have 'invisible brains scars' that will never heal."

And tell you have a brain attack, you simply don't understand the implications. 
Labels:

Comments

Rebecca Dutton said…
Invisible deficits like bone-crushing fatigue and poor balance that distracts us is hard to explain to able-bodied people.
March 19, 2016 at 6:45 AM
Elizabeth, John, Jack, and Luke said…
I ,"look completely fine" too. ;) For that I am thankful.
March 27, 2016 at 5:39 PM
Elizabeth, John, Jack, and Luke said…
I ,"look completely fine" too. ;) For that I am thankful.
March 27, 2016 at 5:39 PM
Marta said…
lok fine too, until I have to walk. Marta
May 4, 2016 at 10:31 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is wrong with us! A lot: Aphasia, Apraxia, and Dysarthria

This morning, from 10:30 to Noon, at St. Lukes in Meridian Idaho, I participated in the “Aphasia, Apraxia, and Dysarthria Support Group” started a year ago through Idaho State University. We meet weekly.  So, what is wrong with us? Aphasia is the name given to a collection of language disorders caused by damage to the brain. A requirement for a diagnosis of aphasia is that, prior to the illness or injury, the person's language skills were normal. The difficulties of people with aphasia can range from occasional trouble finding words to losing the ability to speak, read, or write, but does not affect intelligence. This also affects visual language such as sign language . The term "aphasia" implies a problem with one or more functions that are essential and specific to language function. It is not usually used when the language problem is a result of a more peripheral motor or sensory difficulty, such as paralysis affecting the speech muscles or a general hear
Post a Comment
Read more

College of Western Idaho should offer a Bachelor of Applied Science Degrees (BAS) in Business Administration

Last month I was invited to attend Gov. Brad Little’s announcement of his “Idaho LAUNCH” program which aims to prepare Idaho’s students for Idaho’s workforce needs. Idaho LAUNCH provides grants for education and training programs. Legislators and a host of businesses participated in Gov. Little’s announcement. As a former member and chair of the College of Western Idaho Board of Trustees, I was pleased to lend my support for this needed program. At the same time, I am fully supporting CWI’s goal to deliver a Bachelor of Applied Science Degrees (BAS) in Business Administration for under $20,000. I am pleased to see some many businesses join the effort. The Idaho LAUNCH and CWI’s BAS in Business Administration is a “win-win” for everyone especially students who need that targeted education to succeed. The Idaho LAUNCH program received legislative approval and students are applying. However, CWI’s proposal needs the State Board of Education approval. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL DECI
Post a Comment
Read more

Phantom Blindness and Taking a Break after Strokes

I met with my eye doctor last week about taking some time off from my vision therapy. I have been doing therapy since my stroke almost two and a half years ago. I am tired, and a need a break. My doctor said, “This is completely understandable. Take some time off.” At the appointment, my doctor tested my vision. Because of the strokes, my vision was affected, and I have a problem in my field of vision on the right side. I have a deficit with my right side peripheral vision. However, it is getting better. During the test, I told him that I “sense things on the right side of my peripheral vision.” It seems that I know that something is there, but I cannot really distinguish what it is. He told me that there is a body of thought describing phantom vision or phantom blindness. A Polish researcher, L. Bieganowski, described this phantom blindness this way:    “The subject of the paper is the phenomenon of phantom vision. It occurs among the blind (or almost blind) and is
Post a Comment
Read more