I have recently started attending a group at GF Strong Rehab Centre called the WOW group — or Women Supporting Women. It feels very strange to go to the place I used to work and receive support but I very grateful that these things exist. Walking down the hallway, outside of the physiotherapy/occupational therapy section is the bulletin board that I had put up in about 2002.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a woman of action. I may grumble and complain for a while but I think about solutions and then take steps to make them happen. The speech-language pathology group was running really good aphasia conversation groups and we would talk about how well they were going. The group attendees were also benefiting and really enjoyed the groups, yet they weren’t able to tell their families or other therapists about what transpired in the group. I  had purchased the book “Beyond Aphasia” published by the brilliant therapists in England at Connect , and there was a sample of ‘aphasia-friendly’ minutes in the book. So, Michelle K and I started to take minutes for the group and at the end of the session, we would provide a copy to each member to take with them to share with family and friends.

It occurred to me that it would be valuable to post the minutes in a central location so that the GF Strong community would be aware of the group and the word aphasia, have samples of aphasia-friendly writing, and perhaps start to learn about the interests and lives of our people with aphasia. So, I called Frank in maintenance and asked him to build me a bulletin board and post it on a prominent wall. And, he did.

I cannot tell you how happy I am to see the board is still there, being well maintained, and the aphasia-friendly minutes are still being produced and displayed. Thank you speech-language pathology practice group!

Our MS support group has a team called Kits Kruisers for the upcoming MS walk on April 28. I procrastinated on doing any serious fundraising as I feel a bit awkward asking for money for something that will help me. But I know first-hand how good the work is that the MS Society does and I felt an obligation to extend some thanks to them.

I had set up my personal fundraising page several weeks ago. It starts like this:

I was officially diagnosed with MS on November 15, 2012.

I was grateful for the diagnosis as it gave me some answers to physical problems that have affected me for a few years, including the devastating pain of trigeminal neuralgia. While I waited for my appointment at the MS Clinic at UBC, I was able to get much-needed support through the MS Society.

I took tentative steps via facebook and high school friends. But on Wednesday evening, I went through my address book and broadened the request. Wow, I am so amazed at the response. In a few short days, I have received such great support.

As of this moment, I am the #3 on-line fundraiser for Vancouver , only $40 behind the person who is #1. So, I think I’m going to keep on going as I have about 64 days left.

Here’s the link to my personal fundraising page.

Thanks so much to all of you who have helped me surpass my initial goal and for the encouragement to set the goal higher.

I made this video last night. I have had an active week, seeing friends and doing things that I used to do. There is reduced numbness in my face, mostly now around the right side of my mouth and lips. Maybe I’m just getting used to it. My ability to taste food and smell have been altered, so there is less pleasure than there used to be when eating . . however, eating without pain is good enough.

On Wednesday evening, I attended a book launch and a retirement party for Colleen Kelly. After fourteen years as the Executive Director of Vantage Point , Colleen is retiring. She began her work with the organization when it was “Volunteer Vancouver” and through her visionary leadership, transformed it into one that inspires not-for-profits to deliver their missions by engaging volunteers and encouraging them to use their hands, hearts AND their minds. At Vantage Point, they refer to the people who donate their skills and expertise as “knowledge philanthropists” and emphasize the importance of full and joyful engagement.

The BC Aphasia Centre rented a small closet with a window as our first office at Heritage Hall, across the hall from Volunteer Vancouver. It was like having a treasure trove there and we benefited from their example and support. I learned about writing comprehensible by-laws, running efficient AGMs, as well as learning when it was time to encourage and facilitate a merger when we did not have the capacity to continue.

I took advantage of their workshops and other learning opportunities. And they were so nice to me and asked me to contribute to their ‘knowledge bank’. I wrote an article for their newsletter on the process of merging with a larger organization and the commitment of our board to see it through. I see that a blog post is still there that I wrote in 2009 after attending a workshop they hosted. Virginia said nice things about me in the intro.

I am so grateful to Colleen and the rest of the staff at Vantage Point for always making me feel like part of the family. She did a great thing by nurturing and supporting the talent within the organization, so that as she leaves, the vision and mission are still alive.