The Power of A Stroke Survivor’s Tweets
Greetings, Thrill Seekers, and Fellow Time Travellers, I first started “Tweeting” in 2019 with the objective of sharing the insights and learnings from my Stroke journey to stakeholders in the Stroke Industry.
As I look back, I have been prodigious in my writings and what has heartened me beyond anything was the response to my writings.
Not because it is a ‘Brian Moment’, but it vividly demonstrates the impact of our writings where we talk about the challenges that we faced in our rehab and how we managed to overcome them.
Dear Brian, excuse me for writing to you in this manner, but I and more recently my father has been reading your tweets about your rehab adventures and several of the blogs really struck a chord with me.
So much so I sat down and discussed these at length with my father, who is a stroke survivor [4 years since his stroke], in particular, the ones you posted on Plateauing, the one about your rehab road and the beautiful one you wrote on Solitude.
For the last year or so, my father has felt that he has reached the end of his tether in terms of his rehab journey and has been reluctant to take part in any programme.
However, after we read your blogs, we discussed him recommencing his daily exercises (reaching and stepping) and lo and behold he has started to walk again
I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart that you wrote these, in fact he has them laminated and stuck on the wall of his little Home Office
You are indeed one of the special people and I urge you to keep writing your thoughts and ideas.
Bless you. yours very gratefully Jennifer.
Receiving a tweet like that make me feel very very humble and a little emotional. But to me once again it demonstrates the power of Lived Experience and why it is so important that you share yours. Whether it be in a tweet, a FB posting, even in a Research project stroke or a talk
Contact the Stroke Foundation StrokeLine, they can point you in the right direction.
You will gain a sense of satisfaction you never thought possible. Your input will be valued and respected.
You can take my word for it!
PS=If you want to read the tweets mentioned in her letter, click on the links in the letter.
Brian A Beh, Stroke Survivor, Advocate, and Investigator.
Lived Experience Stroke Researcher
Life Member of the Hopalong Cassidy Fan Club
Poet, Philosopher and Child of the Cosmos
Winner "Improving Life After Stroke" Category
Stroke Foundation of Australia 2021 National Awards.
&
Inaugural Chair, Consumer & Community Advisory Committee
The George Institute for Global Health - Australia