Oct 9, 2016
Hi Everyone! Missed last week...sorry! I wanted to tell you about one of our programs that has become quite successful. It is called "Coffee Cafe-sia". I had a survivor say that was a mouthful even for someone without Aphasia!!! This program started in March this past year, as a casual social opportunity for people with Aphasia to come and "practice". We started out at Schnucks, but noise and the addition of Mahjong players made this space a bit of a challenge...and yet people came every week! Then MoBap really stepped up and offered the ABC Brigade use of their auditoriums to meet....AWESOME!!!! There is no therapy....though it could be considered therapeutic....just coffee and conversation. While we do have a donation jar sitting out, there is no fee or charge of any kind for this. MoBap even has allowed us to use a conference room so the care partners of the survivors meet and have their own coffee klatch going on!! I have grown quite attached to this crew...they are in my heart. Not to get too mushy here, but you see the folks who have no words yet, the hesitant newcomers, a group studying vocabulary words together and a loud, rowdy UNO game at another....it's just an amazing, caring, supportdriven group of people!!! If you know someone who has Aphasia, we meet on Wednesdays at the Missouri Baptist Hospital Auditoriums. The time sometimes changes but I will post the calendar and parking directions are on FB.
Now, our biggest event of the year, the STAMPEDE FOR STROKE, will be celebrating its fifth run on October 29, which just happens to be World Stroke Day. Theresa Notestine, our Race Director, has been taking this on since its inception. Every year I find out another piece of the puzzle that keeps this event going and I'll admit...it is darn daunting!!!! However, every year, it comes off beautifully. Theresa does a fantastic job on this...I know she is exhausted for weeks after...there are no words to thank her for all the things she does to make this successful. This event has become the place for Survivors to show the world that while their world has been turned topsy-turvy, there is nothing that will stop them. WE are the voice for stroke....because who can tell you what it's really like better than someone who has weathered the storm, overcome incredible obstacles, and knows they must be a WARRIOR every day!!!!
Register on our website or check at your local therapy facilities for a registration form.. I'M LOOKING FOR 100 SURVIVORS!!!!!
Talk to you next week...still trying to figure out how to maske this interactive!
Next week....the ABC Brigade Advisory Board...the "machine" behind the ABC Brigade!!!
Have a great week!!!! Kathy