Tuesday, December 27, 2016

2016...It's a wrap!

In this episode of the Slow Road to Better the group discusses what they would want every person with aphasia to know IF this was our last podcast.  Why?  Well, because 2017 is going to be bring some big changes for us.  

First a look back:
The idea for a member-driven podcast started when I went to speak at Marymount University and met Jimmy McKay...then a PT student.  He was already producing a very successful podcast called the PTpintcast and suggested the Stroke Comeback Center start their own. He said that he would help!  And so he did...with mentoring, equipment, donated time and expertise. He used the umbrella of PTpintcast to help us grow, get us listeners and get us started in the world of iTunes.  Fast forward a year and now Jimmy has his PhD, a new job...you know, a life.  

What we accomplished:
Ashley, Chris, Jerry, Joyce, Kathryn, Pat, Randy and I started recording.  We took advice, asked questions, received help and jumped in!  We tried it out to see what would happen. We learned about microphones, soft voices, Audacity, editing and how loud putting a coffee cup down really was!  We shared with the world that people with aphasia are funny, honest, motivating and still have fights with their spouses.  Between June and December 2016, we published 7 podcasts. Might not sound like a lot to you, but to us, each one was an effort in team work and perseverance....kind of like rehab. 

Looking forward:
It's time for the Slow Road to Better to become independent.  Jimmy has a life and needs to focus on it.  So, in 2017 we have set ourselves some goals.  We need to have our own iTunes feed so that others with aphasia can find us a little easier.  We also would like to give Jimmy back his microphone and upgrade our equipment to headsets so that our sound is better.  That also means a mixing board...something else to learn and buy.  So WHEN, not if, you listen to episode 7 you will hear that we are asking for donations to help keep this podcast going.  If you can help....we would REALLY appreciate it.  If not, just spread the word about the podcast, there is someone out there who can and will.  I believe that!  The Stroke Comeback Center is dedicated to keeping this podcast going.  We will find a way to buy our equipment and get onto iTunes.  

So, if you are still reading...thank you!  Have a question, a comment or lucky lottery numbers? Let us know!  You can leave a comment here, or on our website:  http://strokecomebackcenter.org/

Ok, enough reading...let's listen in on episode 7.  It's a good one!  Oh, and here are the pictures that you hear Ashley taking.




Let's listen in!
https://www.ptpintcast.com/slowroad7/



Melissa





Friday, December 9, 2016

Catching Up!

We are combining the blog posts for Noise and Thanksgiving  
Better late than never, right?

In NOISE the group discusses:
  • How conversation impacts them differently than music
  • How music helps their speech and language
  • Alive Inside...a documentary about music and people with Alzheimer's

Meet Kevin...a guest podcaster. You'll hear from him in Noise!

In THANKSGIVING the group discusses:
  • How they handle Thanksgiving...the good, the bad and the ugly
  • Rocker Knives and dysum.  Links to examples of these items are below

What is a rocker knife?
https://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Rocking-T-Knife/dp/B00014VWUW


What is dysum?
https://www.amazon.com/Dycem-Non-Slip-Mat-Small-Rectangle/dp/B00294OJ1G

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And some words from Randy on Thanksgiving.


This is my 6th Thanksgiving since my stroke.  Wow!!  My how life changed when having a major stroke with a brain injury.  God bless you Lord I am alive.
        I don’t remember much about that first Thanksgiving.  The only way to now about me since that day is from photo’s.   My brother and nephew helped us to set up the outside Christmas tree lights.
        I do not have many pictures from the 2011 but I have more now in 2016.  Now it is November 24, 2016.  Laura and I did Thanksgiving dinner with my sister-in-law, brother-in-law and mother-in-law as well as two very cute kids.  We had a very nice prayer, great food and wonderful conversations.  
        Of course we had Turkey and it was very tasty.  We used our new Butterball Electric Fryer.  A 14 pound Turkey that was cooked in 55 minutes.  Using this device with peanut oil was the key.
        We never give up!!
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Here are the links to NOISE and THANKSGIVING, just in case you need them!

https://www.ptpintcast.com/slowroad5-noise/

https://www.ptpintcast.com/slowroad6/


Thanks so much for joining us on this Slow Road to Better!