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Aphasia Center honors volunteers
When Jack Dillard suffered a stroke several years ago he said he remembers waking up in the first few days following the incident terrified that he might die.
by Kathleen Thurber
Midland Reporter-Telegram
When Jack Dillard suffered a stroke several years ago he said he remembers waking up in the first few days following the incident terrified that he might die.
Then, as the paralysis caused by the stroke started to spread, he said, he became scared he might not die and would instead have to live an entirely different life than he'd been living just days before.
"Boy, the trauma that that creates is just overwhelming," he said.
Dillard now walks with a cane, but otherwise gets around just fine, he said. The stroke affected his left side, he said, leaving him with the ability to communicate that is often lost when a stroke affects the right side and causes aphasia, or the inability to communicate, usually through a loss of speech, writing, reading and/or understanding.
About one in every three stroke survivors acquires aphasia, and it's estimated about 1 million in the U.S. live with the condition, according to the National Aphasia Association.
Knowing he was lucky, Dillard said, when he heard about the Aphasia Center of West Texas he wanted to help. He and the center's four other volunteers were honored recently by the about 20 regular clients at the center, which was established in 2001.
"If I could help somebody through that," Dillard said, "and that there really are honest to goodness better days coming, then I'd like to be a part of that, so I did."
The five volunteers now help at various times through the week, participating in communication workshops and giving those who suffer from Aphasia the time and patience they need to be able to communicate effectively.
"Their mind is as brilliant as it ever was but all of those thoughts, things and words don't come out like they want them to," said Cathe Leggott, a volunteer who's husband suffered from aphasia.
Leggott said she started volunteering about three years ago and that it's always one of the most uplifting experiences of her week. She said she knows the frustration of having others look at aphasia survivors like they are mentally incapacitated and that the center gives them a place where they're completely free of such misconceptions.
"I just come away blessed by having been there because I do see the progress these people are making," she said. "You kind of become an extended family."
Aphasia can also be caused by brain aneurysms or injuries, according to the National Aphasia Association. About 100,000 new cases are developed each year, according to the association.
The volunteers participate in communication workshops with the aphasia survivors, help with computer lab times and join in book clubs, said the center's director Kathryn Shelley.
Clients from Midland, Odessa, Pecos, Monahans and other areas participate in the daily activities, Shelley said, and a group are even in from Dallas this month so they can attend the center's "Living with Aphasia" class.
The Aphasia Center of West Texas is one of just a handful of non-profits that support aphasia survivors with full-time programs like the ones available in Midland, though Shelley said she expects that number to increase as the model they use to engage clients becomes more widespread.
Though they could use a few additional volunteers, she said, they're always looking for clients in hopes that fewer and fewer in the Permian Basin will live in isolation because of their condition.
"We are serving only a fraction of the people who are sitting in their homes not knowing that we exist," Shelley said.
Leggott said she wishes there had been a facility like the center when her husband had Aphasia and agreed with Dillard in saying that she'll volunteer for as long as she's able.
"When they finally do communicate, you can sense there's a huge sense of relief," Dillard said. "If you've been a little part of that you feel good."
Kathleen Thurber can be reached at kthurber@mrt.com.
For more information visit: http://www.aphasiawtx.org
Then, as the paralysis caused by the stroke started to spread, he said, he became scared he might not die and would instead have to live an entirely different life than he'd been living just days before.
"Boy, the trauma that that creates is just overwhelming," he said.
Dillard now walks with a cane, but otherwise gets around just fine, he said. The stroke affected his left side, he said, leaving him with the ability to communicate that is often lost when a stroke affects the right side and causes aphasia, or the inability to communicate, usually through a loss of speech, writing, reading and/or understanding.
About one in every three stroke survivors acquires aphasia, and it's estimated about 1 million in the U.S. live with the condition, according to the National Aphasia Association.
Knowing he was lucky, Dillard said, when he heard about the Aphasia Center of West Texas he wanted to help. He and the center's four other volunteers were honored recently by the about 20 regular clients at the center, which was established in 2001.
"If I could help somebody through that," Dillard said, "and that there really are honest to goodness better days coming, then I'd like to be a part of that, so I did."
The five volunteers now help at various times through the week, participating in communication workshops and giving those who suffer from Aphasia the time and patience they need to be able to communicate effectively.
"Their mind is as brilliant as it ever was but all of those thoughts, things and words don't come out like they want them to," said Cathe Leggott, a volunteer who's husband suffered from aphasia.
Leggott said she started volunteering about three years ago and that it's always one of the most uplifting experiences of her week. She said she knows the frustration of having others look at aphasia survivors like they are mentally incapacitated and that the center gives them a place where they're completely free of such misconceptions.
"I just come away blessed by having been there because I do see the progress these people are making," she said. "You kind of become an extended family."
Aphasia can also be caused by brain aneurysms or injuries, according to the National Aphasia Association. About 100,000 new cases are developed each year, according to the association.
The volunteers participate in communication workshops with the aphasia survivors, help with computer lab times and join in book clubs, said the center's director Kathryn Shelley.
Clients from Midland, Odessa, Pecos, Monahans and other areas participate in the daily activities, Shelley said, and a group are even in from Dallas this month so they can attend the center's "Living with Aphasia" class.
The Aphasia Center of West Texas is one of just a handful of non-profits that support aphasia survivors with full-time programs like the ones available in Midland, though Shelley said she expects that number to increase as the model they use to engage clients becomes more widespread.
Though they could use a few additional volunteers, she said, they're always looking for clients in hopes that fewer and fewer in the Permian Basin will live in isolation because of their condition.
"We are serving only a fraction of the people who are sitting in their homes not knowing that we exist," Shelley said.
Leggott said she wishes there had been a facility like the center when her husband had Aphasia and agreed with Dillard in saying that she'll volunteer for as long as she's able.
"When they finally do communicate, you can sense there's a huge sense of relief," Dillard said. "If you've been a little part of that you feel good."
Kathleen Thurber can be reached at kthurber@mrt.com.
For more information visit: http://www.aphasiawtx.org
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Briley wrote on Oct 19, 2008 8:50 PM: