There's Minna, the American immigrant who left a lucrative job in the States and came with her family to Israel in the 1970's. There's Davidi, a North African immigrant who can vividly describe growing up in Tunisia in the 1930's. There's Sarah, an expressive Moroccan woman who supplements her passionate opinions with occasional kisses heavenward. And there's Achmed, whose children demonstrate a level of respect for their father that we all need to emulate.
They live in Jerusalem, and they are all my stroke patients.
I am a speech language pathologist in training, currently doing my internship at a rehabilitation facility in Jerusalem. The center is inhabited mostly by neurologically impaired or critically ill patients, some of whom have been on ventilating support for years.
When I told people where I was going to be training, the reactions were mostly disheartening. “How depressing,” “that's a tough place,” “how will you not let it get to you?” So on my first day -- which fell out on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day -- I came prepared for the worst.
I left enriched and inspired.
Davidi was first. He was wheeled into the therapy room by an aide and wore a dazed and faraway expression. His hair was matted, his pajamas disheveled, and a catheter seemed to be causing some measure of discomfort. My supervisor began the session with voice exercises. Davidi was trying hard but could barely hold a straight tone for three seconds. His frustration and restlessness mounted.
Several minutes into the session, the piercing siren began to sound. My supervisor and I were disoriented; we had forgotten the significance of the day. “Yom HaShoah!” Davidi croaked, with a clarity of voice that we hadn't heard the entire session. “La'amod (stand)!” Davidi's paralyzed leg didn't allow him to stand, but he wanted to make sure we would.
We stood solemnly and then he spoke. “I am a survivor. In Tunis, they made us wear yellow stars.” Davidi used his hands to show us where the star would go. “They sent us to forced labor, forced!” he almost shouted. His eyes watered; they seemed to gaze far past the hospital walls into a world of dark memories.
The wail of the siren died down. Our vocal function exercises resumed -- Davidi with renewed strength, and we with newfound respect.
Sarah came for therapy next. She has right hemiplegia and cannot stand or sit without assistance. She was crying. “I am crying for myself!” she announced. “After a beautiful Passover with my son, I just fell -- pitom! (suddenly) — and couldn't get up. Look where I am now…” I nodded sympathetically and held her hand.
“It is terribly difficult, but it will pass,” my supervisor reassured her.
Sarah shook her head and pointed to the sky. “Only He who caused it can make it pass. God, help me…heal me!”
She proceeded to talk to God. She told him that it is very hard for her here, that she doesn't like the food, that she can't even light the Shabbat candles properly. Could God please make sure that gets better, and soon?
We waited silently, wishing that we, too, could engage in meaningful conversation with God that easily.
I'm learning a lot about dysphagia. But I'm learning even more about goodness and faith
When it was time for Achmed's session, we went directly to his hospital room. His son and three daughters were waiting for us, clothed in traditional Muslim garb. Achmed's stroke had necessitated the insertion of a feeding tube, but his family was eager to wean him off and reintroduce oral feeding. We offered him teaspoonfuls of soft cheese in order to assess his swallow, but he wasn't interested in eating.
With astounding patience, each child gently began to coax him into swallowing. “Abba, ibla [swallow], Abba, ibla…” One by one, they stroked him on the cheek, kissed him, and massaged his face as they spoke soothing words in Arabic. “Abba, the therapist is here to help you eat. Ibla…” After 15 minutes of attempts, it was decided to try again on a different day. My supervisor asked when the family would be visiting next to coordinate an assessment time. “Oh, we're all here every day, for several hours. There is always someone here.”
We left the ward moved by the devotion and respect we had witnessed.
Working in this healthcare facility is not a continuous delight, but my experience has been anything but depressing.
Yes, I am learning a lot about dysphagia and aphasia. But I am learning even more about goodness and faith, about the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.
(11) brenda, May 8, 2010 8:07 PM
Beautiful and moving
Malka: A beautiful and moving piece. Thank you for sharing.
(10) , April 30, 2010 2:38 AM
Alan, as a multiple-stroke survivor I have to point out that people who do not survive are DEAD and are buried. I'm still recovering from my first stroke following a carotid endarterectomy. I was allowed to have four hours of speech therapy because that was all Medicare allowed. It's interesting that this article came along when it did because I am recovering from my third stroke. I thought I was just having problems with aphasia. After a few weeks my doctor took one look at me and called 911. For some reason by the time I got to the hospital a very slow bleed sped up and I went into a coma. Thank Hashem a great neurosurgeon was on hand and stopped the bleed. Now I need to do is wait a few a few weeks to recover.
(9) Claudia, April 29, 2010 8:33 PM
Malka, i was absolutely moved to tears by your article. I myself am a student in Speech Pathology and Audiology studying aphaia and dysphagia among other things and found myself battling to connect with the importance and depth of what we have to deal with on an everyday basis...thank you for bring meaning back to what i study every day and for this truly inspirational story of appreciating the whole human and seeing these beautiful but hurt individuals as precious PEOPLE!!! We can learn an infinite amount from them all!!!!!
(8) Anonymous, April 27, 2010 10:39 PM
Signs of stroke
I commend you for your work. I do not know how you do it. With the writer's approval I would like to share some symptoms of stroke (not exhaustive). It may save a life. (This is not my work and I do not know where I got it from. My apologies. If someone knows the author please give credit.) STR S- Ask the person to SMILE T- Ask the person to TALK - a simple sentence -has to make sense R- Ask the person to RAISE both arms Another sign is to ask the person to stick out the tongue. If the tongue is crooked (goes to one side or another) then it is also an indication. If you notice any of these signs please call the emergency line and/or get help immediately. Time is of the essence.
(7) Malka Forster, April 26, 2010 6:40 PM
Author's Response
Hadassah, You raised a good point. In fact, I mentioned Davidi's poor appearance and discomfort to his attending nurse following our initial session, and on subsequent therapy sessions it was much improved. As you noted, it is our responsibility as health care professionals to be concerned not only about progress in our field of treatment but also about the patient's overall wellbeing and comfort.
(6) Alan, April 25, 2010 7:39 PM
Help for stroke victims
The HandTutor system provides objective and quantitative kinematic finger and writs movement measurements and customization of exercise tasks to the patients' condition. All the data is documented and saved to the patients electronic file within the system. The system is used for hand rehabilitation by physical and occupational therapy in hospital and community rehabilitation centers as well as through tele-rehabilitation with the patient in their own home. HandTutor is indicated for hand rehabilitation following neurological and orthopedic injuries such as Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Hand Surgery, Brachial Plexus Injuries, Radial and Ulnar nerve injuries, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Development Co-ordination Syndrome, ADD, and ADHD. The system is safe and reliable, affordable, user friendly, FDA and CE certified.
(5) D.K.Milgrim-Heath, April 25, 2010 2:12 PM
There's Always Some Hope
There’s Always Some Hope By D.K. Milgrim-Heath©2009-2010 When one can’t always cope- It's God that gives us hope. God does turns one’s life around- He makes it easier in all bounds.
(4) Stan, April 25, 2010 1:45 PM
Thank G-d
During the last 5 years I have suffered two strokes, but thanks to G-d and Hatzolla's quick service (rushed me to a local hospital in under 10 minutes) I survived both strokes with only loss of short term memory, loss of the ability to walk normally - walk very slowly with tiny steps, and general body weakness. I have a very supportive wife and family which helps tremendously at times when I feel frustated and 'down'. Reading the above makes me feel extremely thankful to Hashem for his help through the last five years. When I tell people that I have had two strokes, they all say, "You look okay, thank G-d for that!"
(3) hadassa, April 25, 2010 1:29 PM
davidi - stroke patient
I'm very troubled by the description by the author of Davidi's state, ie, a state of discomfort from a catheter, a lack of proper care for the patient's personal hygiene, and therefore for his dignity as a human being. And yet, Ms Forster and her supervisor begin their speech pathology session with perfect equanimity! Reading about this poor man's discomfort made me squirm. Where is their duty of care?
(2) ruth, April 25, 2010 12:56 PM
stroking each other
I too, am/was a practising speech pathologist, and I learned many deep and powerful lessons from my patients about love, and about patence, and mostly about story and how we all fall down. I felt deeply for these people who had strokes, and how they had been affected in that part that so affects all of us, namely, the need to communicate. And they did, as your patients do, in deep ways. When love is the communication it passes through barriers.
(1) Samson, April 25, 2010 12:12 PM
My Father
People say things just happen and there is no reason. Well my Dad who is 76 years old just had a stroke a couple days ago so I have been thinking about this while I am awake. It is 5am right now and I just watched a 1939 movie called "On Borrowed Time" about the end of life here and I had to get on my pc (now 5am) to look up the movie to maybe show my Dad since he was just a little kid when it came out. Something just told me to check my email......not sure why since getting email right now is not the usual. And I get this email from Aish.......with this as one of the topics. I sure wasn't expecting that. Hashem tends to surprise me every day of my 52 years.