My third written blog. I used to write about travel and retirement. Now Aphasia.
My Third Written Blog. Why? Because I Have Aphasia.
Why I’m Writing This Blog
If you’ve looked around the Aphasia at Home website, you already know a little about me. I’m from Connecticut, and I have aphasia—a communication disorder caused by a stroke, a brain injury, or, more rarely, Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). Aphasia affects language: speaking, reading, listening, and writing.
For three years, I worked 30 hours a week to rebuild my language and reading skills.
Notice something? I didn’t mention writing.
Writing was so damn hard.
Before my stroke, I wrote professionally—first as a journalist, then as a public relations manager. After I retired, I wrote travel stories, Connecticut features, and even a piece about one of my favorite Americans: Dolly Parton.
Here is the Dolly Parton article. The next day, I had a stroke. My writing life fell apart.
Rebuilding Language and Reading
This website, which I launched earlier this summer, explains the steps I took to regain language and reading. The idea to add a new blog came only last week—but it immediately felt right.
This blog will help people understand aphasia:
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how I relearned language,
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how others are doing it,
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and what strategies make speaking and reading possible again.
Everyone’s journey is different. I’ve met a few people with aphasia here in Connecticut, but online—on Zoom—I’ve met many more. Each of us is working to build a meaningful, positive life, even when speaking is hard.
I want people with aphasia, caregivers, and families to know there are things you can do. You can face the challenges and still feel hopeful about what’s ahead.
Topics I Hope To Explore
Over time, I want to talk with:
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people living with aphasia,
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caregivers and families,
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speech-language pathologists,
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scientists and researchers,
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doctors and nurses,
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anyone who wants to share ideas for living a full, connected life.
There is so much to learn from each other.
Aphasia and Isolation
I also know there are many people with aphasia who feel isolated, frustrated, or confused. Aphasia can make the world feel smaller.
But there are ways to reconnect:
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in-person aphasia groups,
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Zoom meetups,
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book clubs,
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singing groups,
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game groups,
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conversation practice sessions.
Some people don’t even know they have aphasia. My father-in-law was one of them. He couldn’t speak for seven years. I didn’t know his diagnosis, and I didn’t realize that inside he was still the same brilliant engineer who had created patents for large generators.
Just before he died, I learned that he remembered everything—he simply couldn’t express it. He even beat me at four games of gin (the card game, not the liquor!). More on that in a future post.
This Blog Will Grow
This blog will evolve as I experiment, learn, and grow stronger in writing again. I’ll discover what stories I want to tell—and what readers want to learn—over the next few months.
Tell me what you would like to read about. Write me at lmalis.aphasiaathome@gmail.com
—Laura from ConnecticutÂ