JOBURG – The office of Park Care speech therapist Caitlin Longman was a hive of activity as the frail care centre, together with several other non-governmental organisations, prepared to launch Stroke Awareness Week.
The audio-visual campaign, set to run from 28 October until 3 November, will use the stories of people who suffered strokes to help dispel ignorance surrounding the condition and its after-effects.
“Through my work as a speech therapist, I found that many people struggled to look at their own identities post-stroke. The campaign was born when I wanted patients to find something positive within themselves, to see how much progress they made, and to share their stories with others,” said Longman.
Longman met photographer Valentina Nicol and asked her if she would be interested in helping out with an awareness campaign.
Nicol agreed, and the two soon found themselves with blackboards and some of Longman’s patients. Not content with limiting the project to Park Care, Longman made contact with Headway Hyde Park and Alexandra, StrokeAid, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Stroke Survivor Foundation. Vodacom Change the World agreed to fund the programme.
The various non-governmental organisations pledged their support, and the project became a reality.
“Most of the people I work with have aphasia, a communication disability that can affect speaking, understanding, reading and writing. One in three stroke victims suffer from it, and it can last a few hours, days, or for the rest of the person’s life,” said Longman.
People with aphasia could lose the ability to read and write, or battle to remember words. Aphasia can be treated with intensive therapy best begun as soon as possible following a stroke.
“We wanted the patients to take control in terms of the stories they shared. It wasn’t always easy, but we all had fun, and we’ve got some powerful messages,” she said.
Longman referred to a survey conducted in several countries to gauge aphasia awareness, and said she was shocked to read that a number of people thought it was an exotic fruit or a skin rash.
“Speaking to families of people who’ve suffered strokes, I realised that some medical professionals don’t seem to give accurate information or counselling. So many families are affected by it, and I don’t understand why we haven’t got that knowledge out there,” she said.
Details: 011-482-2060; https://parkcare.co.za
