In Tandem Cathy Sparkes and Sam Simpson

Hide full quotes

Carlos:
“Before my stroke I didn’t know what a stroke was what happens when you have a stroke. And I assumed many other people didn’t either. I was worried that the difference between me before my stroke and now … I was worried that people would think I’d gone stupid. So I didn’t want to go out any more. I didn’t want to meet friends. Learning what a stroke is… Sam explained what I had (aphasia) and … going out … going out for lunch and things with Sam … with someone I didn’t know before my stroke… that made me feel more comfortable. She understands … she understands I might be waiting to remember a word, but she understands. It made me think that going out again was OK. I was good enough to be able to do it. Then I was able to do it again with my friends. You started me to come back … getting out and doing things that I used to do before my stroke."

Sam:
“Gains are now mirrored in day-to-day life and I can make calls to strangers and be confident that I’ve got my message across. It may sound sad, but the telephone with its absence of visual signals used to be a real source of anguish for me. I can now also meet strangers without feeling too self-conscious. ... helped me to find a useful role in society again. I joined adult education classes and met new people through the local bridge club. I am venturing into the world of publishing the written word, and am using my ‘both sides of the fence’ experience to write some patient information leaflets."

Will:
“It was hard to understand my difficulties because they were not visible like a broken arm in plaster or a cut. My brain was a part of the body that I didn't know how to even think about. Sam asked me to highlight examples of my everyday frustrations (disabilities). We then reenacted the scenes and thought about how to resolve the issues. The first time was extreemly embarrissing but when I look back at it now I see how essential it was to get back into the 'real' world."

Ian:
“I found the use of video incredibly beneficial: to be able to see myself in the way that others saw me gave me great confidence and helped me take a less negative view of myself."

Penny and Ernie:
“Nobody, at the hospital, explained or suggested what the future held for all of us. Once our son, Will, was home, all three of us were all in a very lonely place. You were the first line of support. After all the emotional turmoil and chaos in our heads, you explained, in clear simple language, where we were at, what we could try to achieve with Will and how to go about it. We felt, at last, that we were working together in a team with a supportive and experienced professional and that we were all on the same side with the one aim of getting Will back together. You also enabled us to use the word 'disability' without some sense of prejudice. I suppose it is the old story that you have to admit to a problem before you can start to solve it. More importantly, you enabled Will to face up to his problem and to gather the courage and determination to tackle it. Under your care and guidance, he rebuilt confidence to carry on and stand upright once again. Essentially, after the surgery when Will was out of imminent danger, we were in a vacuum not knowing what to do next to help Will. You gave us that sense of direction in a calm and sure manner. This was such a vital process in making the man whole again."