May/June, 2016
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Newsletter of Kadlec Neurological Resource Center May / June 2016 2 | Working Hard at Hard Work 3 | What is a Stroke? 2016 Northwest 4 | Autism Conference Prescription for 6 | Caregivers Conference 7 | Attend & Learn 8 | May Calendar 9 | June Calendar Tourette's & Young Adults 10 | Support Group 11 | Library New Arrivals 12 | Sponsorship ‹ Working Hard Photo credit Kim Fetrow Photography Seeat pageHard 2 Work kadlec.org/knrc KNRC is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by Kadlec. All programs and resource materials are available through the generosity of our members and donors. Working Hard at Hard Work Photo credit Kim Fetrow Photography Working Hard at Hard Work | By Mary Lynn Merriman Scott Becker was raised with a strong work ethic, and it is a trait that He clearly remembers the day he was able to walk down the has served him well throughout his life, but particularly the last two corridor of the hospital. years following his 2014 stroke. “It was 300 foot long. Just to walk all “I had a choice to Scott grew up in Dayton, Wash., where his family owned a sawmill the way down it was an important make. I could either business. Working hard was just what you did. After college, a job step,” he said. stay in bed, or get out took him to the Portland area, but he returned to run the family Following his release from the business in 1966 following his father’s stroke. He and his wife, Janet, hospital, he began therapy at of bed and start to lived there until he sold the business, and they moved Kadlec’s outpatient rehabilitation work on healing.” to the Tri-Cities in 1989. program, then in the Corrado Then in February 2014, Scott suddenly felt as if the room was Medical Building. spinning around him. He found himself first crawling and then “All of the therapists I have had have been well trained and pushing himself to where his wife was to get her attention. experienced. They have really helped me come back from the It didn’t cross his mind that he was having a stroke, just like his stroke,” he said. dad had experienced. So has his hard work. “I didn’t really pay attention to the fact that my dad had had a Scott works out six days a week, up to 3 hours a day, which stroke. I had practiced good nutrition and was healthy, except that includes time at the Kadlec Healthplex as often as five days my blood pressure was a little high at the time. I didn’t even think a week – three days in the gym and two in the therapy pool. about the possibility that stroke could be hereditary,” he said. He also creates a plan to most effectively utilize his insurance, But Scott, then 75 years old, had suffered a stroke; it left him with maximizing what therapy he can get throughout the year. He, difficulty speaking and what he calls “quiet” on his left side. with the help of his therapists, continues to build a program The hard work begins. based on an assessment of where he needs to focus during a specific period of time. For Scott, the same work ethic he had practiced his whole life kicked into gear. “We have never seen anyone work so hard to recover,” said Sue Pinard, librarian at Kadlec Neurological Resource Center. “He is here “I had a choice to make. I could either stay in bed, or get out of bed every day, giving his all, and always with a smile on his face.” and start to work on healing,” he said. THE KNRC CONNECTION He began with inpatient rehabilitation at Kadlec, which included It wasn’t until the Healthplex opened to house outpatient services, physical, speech and occupational therapy. The therapists helped such as rehabilitation, that Scott began taking advantage of Kadlec him regain strength, to compensate for the loss of movement in his Neurological Resource Center. left side, balance, swallowing and more. 2 www.kadlec.org/knrc Working Hard (cont'd ) & What is a Stroke? “While at the Healthplex for therapy, I saw the library at the AN UNEXPECTED ROLE MODEL Neurological Resource Center,” he said. “I wanted to read as much “When something like a stroke happens, you ask yourself ‘Why did as I could about what people who had a stroke did, what helped this happen to me?’ I had lots of conversations with God, which them. I wanted to educate myself.” were mostly one-sided, asking that question. But now I realize I Once introduced to KNRC, Scott learned about its Stroke Support have lots to share. I get a warm heart when I see those also affected Group and began attending. He tries to attend each month. by a stroke, and they see my work ethic and how I have worked to improve myself. I tell them they can do it, too.” When he sees “It’s been beneficial. As a group, we share the positives we someone he doesn’t recognize at the Healthplex, he is quick to experience, no matter how small. When we build upon introduce himself and to encourage them. If they have questions, those positives, it encourages us all. We start looking for he is ready to answer and to offer encouragement. and recognizing improvements rather than focusing on the negative,” he said. But most of all, they see his continuous hard work. Scott also benefited “I’ve actually had people thank me for setting a good example for from KNRC when them,” he said. he attended an “I’m still recovering. I have more time to put in to get even more educational program back, and then after that, I will go into maintenance to hold on to called “Normal vs Not what I’ve gained,” he said. Normal Aging.” It is part It’s that work ethic still in place, driving him, helping him heal, but of Positive Approach™ maybe just as importantly, serving as an example for others. ■ to Care designed to Photo credit help families and Kim Fetrow Photography professionals better understand how it feels to be living with dementia and related challenges. According to Scott, he gained a better Kadlec Neurological Resource Center understanding of what his brother, who had dementia, went Stroke Support Group through. Third Tuesday of every month “I wish I had this information sooner,” he said. 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Kadlec Healthplex WHAT IS A STROKE? PREVENTING A STROKE ACT FAST A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, is a You can help reduce your risk of stroke by FAST is an easy way to remember the warning leading cause of death and serious, long-term making healthy lifestyle choices. These tips are signs of stroke. Note the time when any of the disability. Each year in the United States, there provided by the Center for Disease Control and signs or symptoms first appear. Remember, are more than 700,000 strokes. Prevention, to help you create a healthy lifestyle: stroke is an emergency. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is • Eat a healthy diet • FACE DROOPS: Ask the person to smile. interrupted. When a stroke occurs, brain cells in • Maintain a healthy weight Does one side of the face droop? the immediate area begin to die because they • Get enough exercise • ARMS DRIFT: Ask the person to raise both stop getting oxygen and nutrients. arms. Does one drift downward? • Prevent or treat other health conditions, There are two major kinds of stroke. The first is • SPEECH SLURS: Ask the person to repeat called ischemic stroke; it is caused by a blood clot especially high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes a simple phrase. Does the speech sound that blocks or plugs a blood vessel or artery in the slurred or strange? brain. About 80 percent of all strokes are ischemic. • Don’t smoke, and avoid second-hand smoke • TIME IS CRITICAL: If you observe any The second type is known as hemorrhagic and is of these signs, it’s time to CALL 9-1-1 caused by a blood vessel in the brain that breaks • Limit alcohol use immediately. and bleeds. Other signs of stroke include weakness or There is another brain attack called transient numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on ischemic attack (TIA), which is often labeled one side of the body; sudden confusion, sudden “mini-stroke.” The only difference between a trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden stroke and TIA is that with TIA the blockage is trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance; or transient (temporary); symptoms occur rapidly sudden severe headache with no known cause. and last a relatively short time. TIA is also a Time lost is brain lost. Every second counts. medical emergency. 3 May / June 2016 Northwest Autism Conference 2016 KADLEC NEUROLOGICAL RESOURCE CENTER PRESENTS THE 12TH ANNUAL FORMERLY THE Southeastern Washington Autism Conference Three Rivers Convention Center August 9-10, 2016 | 7016 W Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick A conference aimed at making life easier for those impacted by autism. For families, providers, and educators. Gain tools and resources, listen to and interact with speakers, and participate in sessions designed to give you practical information on Autism topics. Executive function, anxiety, emotion regulation, food selectivity, challenging behaviors, girls and women, transitions, parenting, and more. FEATURED CONFERENCE ADMISSION: KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Arthur Fleischmann PRESENTER: PRESIDENT & CEO, JOHN ST. ADVERTISING (TORONTO) Karen McKibbin, PsyD PROFESSIONAL Together with his daughter, Arthur wrote a best- CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST August 9-10 .......... $195 selling account of their struggles and successes Dr.