The music of recovery - Highlight - This is me!

We were excited to see this playlist, available to you on Spotify, that includes songs that persons of all ages with many different types of brain injury contributed, as the songs helped them during their recovery journey.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/your-song-headways-very-own-spotify-playlist/

One of the songs jumped out at me - This is me (from The Greatest Showman)

The contributor, someone with brain injury, said:
“This track is very relevant when accepting the new me. No apology, this is me!” said Joanne Wood.

Here are some of the words for you, if you want to know what he is talking about to see if you can relate!
"But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me"

https://genius.com/Keala-settle-this-is-me-lyrics

The music of recovery - Highlight - Rise up

In many of the activities of my lab, music plays a huge role, whether it includes writing manuscripts to the Jurassic Park Pandora channel or submitting grants to the WICKED soundtrack. We were excited to see this playlist, available to you on Spotify, that includes songs that persons of all ages with many different types of brain injury contributed, as they had some importance to them on their brain injury recovery journey.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/your-song-headways-very-own-spotify-playlist/

One of the songs jumped out at me - Rise up byAndra Day
(I have this on repeat on the hard days)

The contributor, someone with brain injury, said:
“This song helped me discover my strength to battle through the really hard times and reminded me to never give up,” said Hayley Nye.

Here are some of the words for you, if you want to know what he is talking about to see if you can relate!
"You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I’ll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
And I’ll rise up
High like the waves
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you"


https://genius.com/Andra-day-rise-up-lyrics

The music of recovery - Highlight - Tubthumping

I was excited to see this playlist, available to you on Spotify, that includes songs that persons of all ages with many different types of brain injury contributed, as they had some importance to them on their brain injury recovery journey.

https://www.headway.org.uk/news/national-news/2018/your-song-headways-very-own-spotify-playlist/

One of the songs jumped out at me - Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

The contributor, someone with brain injury, said:
“I think that chorus sums up what I had to do over and over throughout the recovery,” said Sean Dolan.

Here are some of the words for you, if you want to know what he is talking about to see if you can relate!

"I get knocked down, but I get up again

You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down"

Lyrics - https://genius.com/Chumbawamba-tubthumping-lyrics 

Our Virtual Choir Experience

I am happy to share with you our video - our members and lab family poured their hearts into this production.

As you may know, this is Aphasia Awareness Month, and we would very much appreciate it if you would share this video to help us spread the word about aphasia and related disorders, stroke and other brain injury or disease, recovery, and life participation.

#ShareYourVoice #AphasiaMonth #TalkAboutAphasia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guU_uRaFbHI

Hero and Stroke Survivor!

Much of #StrokeMonth is focused on prevention, recognizing the signs of stroke, etc. While that is critical, it is also important to think about what happens after you survive a stroke. Thanks SO MUCH to Eric Hawton and KRQE Sara Yingling for highlighting the recovery process after stroke!

 http://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/volunteer-firefighter-discusses-long-road-of-recovery-after-two-strokes/1206090316

Aphasia and Apraxia of Speech

More information to share during #AphasiaMonth. Many people with #aphasia may also have #apraxiaofspeech, or persons who have had a stroke or who have progressive disease may just have apraxia of speech. If you want to know more about these terms and diagnoses, watch this wonderful video with information presented by Darlene Williamson. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaVLy_5WhTM

How to start a conversation about suicide

A great follow up to previous posts about depression and suicidal ideation after stroke and other brain injury - this TED talk titled "How to start a conversation about suicide"

https://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_forbes_how_to_start_a_conversation_about_suicide