EnableMe | enableme - stroke recovery and support

In September 2016, Kim Beesley received a call saying that her daughter Emma, at the age of 33, had suffered a stroke.

It came as a complete shock to Kim and the rest of the family that stroke could affect someone young and fit.

As a result of the stroke Emma has ongoing paralysis of her right arm, hand, and ankle, and has aphasia. The following years have been a test of Emma's courage and determination as she slowly regained her ability to speak.

Emma has made significant gains despite an experience of rehabilitation that was not ideal. This experience included a lack of understanding of aphasia and the mental health challenges it can cause.

As a result, Kim has an overwhelming desire to help spread awareness of young stroke and of the challenges carers face, and to advocate for more widespread understanding of the invisible disability that is aphasia.

Recently Kim caught up with Kath Yong, Physiotherapist and Team Leader on StrokeLine 1800 787 653. They talked about aphasia, the impacts of living with aphasia, and what self-directed rehab activities she and her husband, John, put in place to help Emma.

Kim is currently the Secretary of the Australian Aphasia Association and a member of the Aphasia Centre for Research Excellence Consumer Advisory Group. She has a Bachelor of Arts; Graduate Diploma in Librarianship and a Graduate Diploma in Teacher Librarianship. She retired in December 2020 after a career as a Teacher Librarian in NSW public schools for 20 years and prior to that working in public, university and technical libraries.

Aphasia

I lost it 2011, today my speech is not too bad. Probably for a few years my speech is pretty hard. Even now speaking can be difficult. I remember things , then I forget it. I went to a take away, even today, but I gave them a picture that I wanted to eat. A few years ago still staying in Whyalla, two of us went to Olympic Dam, but the friend asked why rod doesn't speak. Stroke. Even now to talk to people I can speak for a minute or two, then speaking nothing at all. Reading is hopeless, and writing is hopeless too. Now I have a few problems, so now I write it, and over a week or two, I can complete it. A friend said that he had a stroke I think 2000, but his speaking is still difficult too.

Hi Rod,

I feel for you. Aphasia is tough. Is there an Aphasia group - either online or face-to-face that you can join? People say that peer groups really help them.

Call the team on StrokeLine 1800 787 653 to see if there is an aphasia group that you can reach out to.

Diana