Aphasia Support Group - Oct. 6, 2008

Once a month Mom and I go to to an amazing support group for stroke survivors (and their caregivers) dealing with the devastating effects of "aphasia" which is a very unfamiliar way to describe the way speech can be affected by a stroke. The stroke survivors meet with Mary Gospel, a speech professor from Butler University (who does this on a completely volunteer basis).

Her daughter, Ali, comes with her and the group has gotten quite attached to her. On this night we got to meet the whole family.

Out in the lobby, family caregivers meet with Ann Harlow, a nurse who is a caregiver herself, who volunteers her time to help the rest of us keep our heads above water.

After this meeting, I got a call from Mary Gospel with the sad news that aphasia group member Bill Willson, (wearing red shirt below) died Oct. 27. His wife, Louise, (wearing pink shirt above in the caregiver's support group) is in our thoughts and prayers.