My Aunt Had a Stroke

I'm sorry, art.

Why did it take so long to find out? I'm sure it was no fault of yours. I hope she regains her communication skills completely!

I'm sorry to hear about this.

Did your aunt get treatment very promptly? (it seems it must have been as she's been in hospital and released) People can have an amazing recovery from strokes, especially if treatment/intervention happened quickly.

It's going to be frustrating for your aunt, but really, speech therapy can do marvellous things.

I understand your frustration, Art.
My family has been like that too.
I hope she is near enough for you to visit.
(Ditto on what ehBeth said about speech therapy.)
Sending best wishes your way.

She did get prompt treatment. This just feels familiar. My grandmother never regained speech after her stroke. She would open her mouth, but could never form words. My aunt (the same one) and my cousins, worked with her and therapists. That was 2007. She died of a second stroke 10 months later.

My poor cousins. They must relive such horrible feelings and fears. It was not so long ago.

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Sorry man. My uncle had a stroke about 10 years ago and hes regained all his speech powers and is involved in a stroke management program with blood thinners and activitioes . Hes 83 and hes doing real fine.
Stroke is managed almost as a chronic thing today and its preventable. As shes on rehab, she needs to be in a program to prevent later (and more severe strokes)

She lives in San Diego and I'm out in DC. I called my father. He's living in SD right now taking care of his parents. I asked him to go and visit her and see if he can offer any help.

For clarification: My parents are divorced. This aunt is my mother's sister.

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I'm sorry to hear of your family's travails, Art. I hope your aunt's recovery is swift and complete.

I'm sorry to hear this, art.

I hope she's able to regain her voice soon.

Sorry to hear of this Diest.

As others have suggested, therapy can work wonders.

As soon as you can, call her on the phone or send her a card with a handwritten note. It means a lot to people to know they are being thought of.

Keep hoping and praying (if you're so inclined). I'll keep her in mine.

As more details are coming in, things sound somewhat better. She has been speaking a bit. My cousin did say that her main struggle is with listening and reading. She is aware of what happened to her and is fully lucid.

Apparently one of the dinner guests was a retired doctor and recognized the signs of the stroke from her behavior. They got her on blood thinners fairly quick. My cousin noted that it's also pretty hard right now to tell what is temporary and what is permanent damage. My aunt hasn't really been able to sleep for the 4 days she was in the ICU. She did get 12 hours of sleep once she returned home though, and I guess this morning is when she began to do some simple speech. She has good dexterity and coordination.

The stroke was "localized in what is called the Wernicke’s area of the brain, somewhere behind her left eye, which is involved in the understanding of written and spoken language."

She is resting and at home. She has done some therapy, but priority one is to let her brain try and heal. I'm glad she is getting some rest.

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Aw sweetheart.

I'm sure it's very frustrating for her, and tough for your family. Thank God that dinner guest was there. Sending many posi-vibes.

I hope things continue to improve for your Aunt. I'm glad you're feeling more encouraged about her situation and hope her struggles will be as minimal as they possibly can be in such a situation.

Googling around:


Not very encouraging.

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Doesn't sound like she has logorrhea, and in the absence of additional strokes I've never heard of the damage from the first one getting worse after the patient was released from the hospital.

Being released after 4 days is a pretty good sign.

I wonder if writing will be easier than speaking.

Singing is supposed to help.. different brain function.

I too hope she will recover. All my best Art.

I am so sorry. This sounds very painful for you and from what you have posted your feelings for her are very clear. I pray that she recovers. Life can make us very angry at times and sometimes it truly should.

I am so sorry FA.

Life is just ridiculously cruel sometimes.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((FA)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I do hope your aunt has some sort of good recovery.

I do find myself wondering if her neural networks for speech and language comprehension might be larger that that of non-specialists (brains change and develop according to how we use them) and this might just possibly give her some benefit in recovery? But of course I do not know.