Knowing when is the right time to pursue intensive aphasia therapy
by Brian Baez, Executive Coordinator and Caregiver Liaison
It's a really big decision, I totally get it. I wasn't sure if this was the right route for my partner and myself at first either. We had been through the inpatient and outpatient therapy system, and been given little to no hope whatsoever that anything would get any better than it currently was. So why jump into the unknown when every professional we had spoken to had told us to not get our hopes up, or "break the bank" as our neurologist said? Because if you don't leap, you never know where you're going to land!
I had to take a step back and look at the entire picture. We were medically stable, and just about completely independent in all of our activities of daily living, or "ADLs". As far as the finances, we were able to make it work with the support of family and the community around us who helped raise funds in various ways. But most importantly, we had the motivation and determination to make progress, whatever that meant, for the future. After weighing all these factors we knew that it was indeed the right time to pursue intensive aphasia therapy. And in the end, what was there to lose? The only place we could go was better than where we were now!
So we packed up the car and drove 14 hours down to Florida to start a 6-week intensive aphasia therapy program. And do you know how long it took me to realize we had made the right decision? About 4 minutes flat! Feeling like I was drowning on my own, trying to navigate this uncharted territory, I was able to get answers, understanding, and a practical game plan to working towards recovery. The decision to leap into the unknown can be scary, but there is never a wrong time to pursue intensive aphasia therapy.
The only mistake you can make is not trying!
