Alan’s Journey to Being Understood in the World.
June is National Aphasia Awareness Month!
“I tell my story so other people know what they have to do to get better.”
In a fast-paced world that relies heavily on communication, what would you do if you suddenly could not get the words out that you wanted to say? How would your life change if the person that once said “I do” to you was no longer able to speak with you about anything?
Alan has always been an active individual. Baltimore-born and -raised, he worked at Sparrows Point as a sheet metal technician. After nearly 3 decades of service at Bethlehem Steel, he transitioned to working at a veterans’ transportation agency until his retirement eight years ago.
Some of Alan’s favorite daily pastimes are listening to gospel music, walking, cycling, bowling, and roller skating. He consistently dresses to impress, and enjoys the occasional treat from Woodlea Bakery.
Who could have imagined that with such an active and health-conscious lifestyle that Alan was at risk for a life-changing medical emergency?
One day, while Alan was swimming, he felt uncharacteristically tired. That night when he could not sleep, he and his wife LaFerne decided to go to the hospital. Because the doctors were concerned about Alan’s irregular heartbeat, they decided to keep him in the hospital for monitoring. Three days later while his family was visiting, Alan suffered a stroke and recalls that he “just fell out.”
For Alan, his wife, siblings, three children, seven grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren, everything changed after the stroke robbed him of his ability to communicate. Immediately after the stroke, Alan tried to talk, but nothing came out right. The anxiety, frustration, and isolation nearly overwhelmed him because no one could understand him.
What comes next after having to start over?
The road to recovery for Alan involved a great deal of physical and occupational therapy at Sinai Hospital. Because communication was still a major obstacle, a therapist who was helping Alan learn how to drive again told him about The League’s SCALE Aphasia Program. In 2017, he joined a community that changed his life for the better.
In order to regain his independence, Alan has been working hard to improve his speech and reading skills. His fellow SCALE members make him feel understood even when he cannot articulate his thoughts because they experience the same challenges.
“I come [to SCALE] every single week because they understand me. The staff know me and they know what I am saying. They help me get the words out.”
For Alan, it is important to him that others know that he is intelligent – he just cannot always verbalize what he wants to say. The patience and adaptability that SCALE employees show to the members help them achieve their goals every day. Everyone works on talking, and the end result is that each person experiences collective growth. Alan and his family are extremely grateful that The League’s SCALE Aphasia Program has been part of his journey.
Stroke or brain injury can happen to anyone, at any time. Aphasia affects about two million Americans and is more common than Parkinson’s Disease, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy. Nearly 180,000 Americans acquire the disorder each year.
How can you improve the quality of life for your neighbors with aphasia?
You can give the gift of support, connection, and understanding to a deserving individual, like Alan. Many members are not able to attend a full week of programming because government funding only covers a certain amount of the fees. Through the SCALE Scholarship Program, stroke survivors are able to afford these critical peer services as they navigate relationships, careers, and life with aphasia through a sense of community and belonging.