March 2014 Newsletter

What’s happening in “our” world

We continue to send good wishes to Susan D. for healing after her fall on the ice. She spent some time on a rehabilitation unit as she was healing from her hip fracture. She is home now and we look forward to seeing her at one of our future meetings.We also send healing wishes to Ron B. as he recovers from a fall and a fracture in his back. Barbara continues to be a wonderful caregiver; she has been busy, but continues to be right by Ron’s side all the way!

Our February meeting was attended by 33 people. Our attendance has continually been in the 30s-40s. I am always so pleased to meet new members, but of course sad that everyday our numbers grow (victims of stroke). I continue to be hopeful that we can educate our society about prevention, but am wise enough to know that changing our habits is difficult. We, as a Survivor and Caregiver Support Group then will continue to reach out with our experience to answer their questions and offer support.

Why join a support group? There are many benefits to joining a support group: You receive support. A support group provides a group of people who truly understand you. With them you can laugh and reflect over the day-to-day turmoil of living. You are educated.

The group's connection gives you access to the latest information on research and treatment. Valuable information is shared among support group members. From 'favorite' doctors in the area to tips for daily coping, support groups are a wealth of firsthand information. You can evolve from being a victim to becoming an advocate.

Support can be Beautiful!

Support groups give you the chance to help by doing something positive on behalf of others, whether it's fundraising, promoting awareness, or consoling others. Support groups help family and loved ones. The survivor is not the only one who "rides the rollercoaster". Spouses, parents, and children need support, too.

Words of Wisdom

Be happy with what you have while working for what you want. So much has been given to me, I have not time to ponder over that which has been denied. Helen Keller

Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better. Maya Angelou

“Never believe where you are…is the only possibility” John G

For Your Health

Let’s keep active…

Thank you to Sue W. for presenting and providing a Home Exercise Program for us to follow. It was good to move a bit in our group time last month and more importantly to have something we can follow at home. If by chance you put this away, that’s OK, but pull the exercises out now and try incorporating them into your daily schedules. Remember after your stroke how exercise became part of your life…well, it still needs to be! Don’t quit making gains; we want you healthy and active for a long time!

Sit and Be Fit

Sit and Be Fit is a non-profit organization that produces America's award winning television exercise series, Sit and Be Fit. Each chair exercise program is carefully researched and designed by host Mary Ann Wilson, RN and a team of physical therapists, doctors, and exercise specialists. Sit and Be Fit has been broadcast since 1987 on PBS stations to over 86 million U.S. households annually, and is recognized by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) as a "Best Practice" program in health promotion and aging.

This program is aired on Think TV Network in the Dayton area on Channel 14 or 16 most mornings at several different times. It is broadcast in Cincinnati on CET.

Check your local listing and get moving!

Montgomery County Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group

Sponsored by: The Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio at MVH

March 2014

Join us in the Maxon Parlor in the Weber Continuing Education Building at Miami Valley Hospital. We are located on the ground floor.

Call with questions or for directions. 937-208-4194 (Barb Etter)

www.mcstrokesupport.blogspot.com

Weather Advisory: If you think the road or weather is to dangerous to be out – PLEASE, do not come to the meeting. We will closely monitor the weather but use your best judgment. Check the local TV channels for cancellation notices.

2014 Schedule

March 20, April 24 (last Thursday of month), May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, October 30 (last Thursday of month), November/December to be scheduled

6:30 PM – 8 PM

Like us on Facebook: Montgomery County Stroke Survivor, Caregiver, and Aphasia Support Group

Any ideas for future meetings? Let us know and we will see about arranging speakers. Looking forward to seeing you at the meeting. Your Support Group Team

Barb 208-4194 Ramona 208-2746 Michele 208-6277 Sue Susan Erin

December Holiday Celebration 2013

Although these are a little late, our Group always has a wonderful time sharing the Holiday Spirit. This year, everyone brought delicious food to share and we spent the evening singing carols. Laughter, friendship, and smiles are wonderful medicine!

February 2014 Meeting - Home Exercise

Sue leading our February Group through some home exercises. Continued exercise is important!

See you on Thursday!

We look forward to seeing you this Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 6:30 P.M.
The weather forecast looks good for travel: partly cloudy, 37 degrees.
Bring your ideas for the upcoming year!!

January News

Wishing you Happy and Healthy 2014!

Our Holiday Party was a wonderful way to end 2013. It was truly a gathering of friends; we shared stories and laughter, songs and music plus wonderful food. As many of you know I am quite sentimental. I have become so attached to this group of amazing survivors and caregivers – it brought tears to my eyes as I watched a daughter help her mother follow the words of the Christmas carols we were singing; I watched a husband sing to his wife; I watched a whole table of faces light up as one survivor pulled out his harmonica and his jokes to entertain us. What a beautiful night; thank you all for coming and sharing.  Our group has grown over the year; this night there were 45 of us together. I want to thank the Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio for sponsoring our support group and “The Team” for volunteering each month – you are the best!

I cannot look back at this evening without thinking of those we were missing;  I know they were with us in spirit. We were blessed by their time with us.                                                                           Barb

January 16, 2014

Support Can Be Beautiful…… Ask the Experts – either of these titles could apply for tonight, we will gather to talk about any questions or concerns you would like to discus. This is always a popular time for all of us as we learn from each other.  Most probably we will divide up into groups so we can focus on particular issues that impact survivors and caregivers.

HELP NEEDED

Please bring your ideas for this next year.  We will have our Support Night approximately every other month and have speakers on the opposite months.  Let us know what topics interest you. If we throw in a summer picnic and a holiday dinner - the year is gone. Time, seriously does fly!  J

Something for all of us………………………..Reprinted from Dear Abby column January 1, 2014

JUST FOR TODAY: I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once. I know that I can do something for 24 hrs that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.                                                         

JUST FOR TODAY: I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.                                                                                                

JUST FOR TODAY: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.                                                                                                                                      JUST FOR TODAY: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.                                                                                                     

JUST FOR TODAY: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path and I‘ll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly and not interrupt when someone else is talking.                                                                                                                                  

JUST FOR TODAY: I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.                                                                  

JUST FOR TODAY: I will do something positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll quit. If I am overweight, I will eat healthfully – if only for today.

See you soon:     Barb 208-4194     Ramona 208-2746      Michele 208-2677          Sue           Susan          Erin

2014 SCHEDULE

Meetings are held the 3^rd Thursday of the month

6:30 PM – 8:00PM 

 

Montgomery County Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group

Located in the Maxon Parlor in Weber Continuing Education Building

Ground Floor           Miami Valley Hospital

Call for directions or questions      937-208-4194  (Barb Etter)

 

www.mcstrokesupport.blogspot.com

 

2013

Thursday, December 12^th  6pm – 8pm

2014

January 16, February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19,

 July 17, August 21, September 18, October 30 (last Thursday of month), November and December to be scheduled

 

 

Words of Wisdom

 

Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.

So much has been given to me, I have not time to ponder over that which

has been denied.

Helen Keller

 

“There is hope.”

 These are the key words I remember when we started our meeting and welcomed the new comers as we told our stories.

“It gets better.”

These are the words of encouragement I heard as we talked about the difficult times and a few tears were shed.

“It takes time.”

That 4-letter word…TIME. We all want to be better—yesterday! This is where patience with ourselves and the support of our caregivers helps time go by.

“Have a life after the stroke.”

These are words we all should hear, not just the survivors, but everyone. Actually, we all need to have a life – we should never let our disability define us.

 

To quote John G.:

 “NEVER BELIEVE WHERE YOU ARE … IS THE ONLY POSSIBILITY”

DECEMBER NEWS

December 12, 2013

Our Holiday Social from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Please join us this evening to share in food, fun and friendship as we end another year. We will begin our evening a bit earlier since we will be sharing our meal together. We plan to eat around 6:15pm -- then around 7pm we will have a guitarist that will lead us in song. During the evening we will draw for door prizes, but best of all we will have time to talk and laugh. We are “good medicine” for each other!

This year we are doing a carry in. If you are able to bring an appetizer, salad or vegetable to share – that is great. If you are not able to bring something then please come anyway; we always have plenty of food.  There will not be a main entrée, but a few of us are bringing appetizers that are proteins.       Drinks and dessert will be provided. We will also have plates and plastic-ware for everyone.

This is always a good time; can’t wait to see you there!

 

September Meeting Highlights:

The Caregiver Support Group has grown over the last few months. There were several newbies at our last meeting and they were given much needed encouragement by the veteran caregivers. There were several specific strategies that are worth mentioning.  I will try to bring handouts to the next meeting with more information.

Have trouble finding things like car keys, wallets, cell phone, or purse. Robin found a product that has made her life much easier. FOFA (www.dindonefindall.com) is a device that you can attach to often misplaced items. If you have one remote it can locate the others.

Another caregiver has someone coming over to play cards with her husband. It helps with his aphasia and gives her a much needed break. They play the card game “trash” which is easy to learn.

Ginger shared that Project Mobility was very helpful when she had to go back to work after her husband’s stroke.

The Survivor Group is doing well; we have not only grown in numbers but also in enthusiasm and support.  Some of the words of wisdom that I wrote down: Don’t give up; Do whatever it takes; Do not set a time limit on your progress; This has brought us closer (survivors and caregivers); I exercise regularly; I have a new job now; I went back to church; I tell others about stroke symptoms, I formed a support group at my school; I am learning to accept myself.

The Aphasia Group: we talked about conversation strategies. Our group will continue with more conversation strategies after the New Year.

 

WEATHER NOTICE

                Please keep an eye to the sky when deciding if the roads are safe to travel to our monthly meetings. Never head out if you think conditions are not safe. Also check the local TV channels for cancellation notices.

 

Your support group team:

Barb 208-4194   Ramona  208-2746        Michelle 208-6277            Sue                Susan       Erin