Jeff Palmer was affected by a stroke at age 37. As a husband, father of two boys, working a job he loved and coaching baseball for his kids, the impacts the stroke had on his life were numerous. Three years after the stroke, Jeff is still adjusting to physical mobility challenges, working on regaining verbal communication, nourishing his personal relationships and trying to keep his spirits up. The Palmers have experienced a challenging road with all the changes but they are committed to working through this period of transition together. Thanks to programs like Hope After Stroke offered by Langley Community Support Groups Society, Jeff continues to improve his mobility with group physical exercise and activities. He is also working through his aphasia-related communication challenges with cognitive and communication games and exercises.
On top of the physical and mental benefits, stroke survivor programs like this offer important social support and connection to people who can often feel isolated and depressed after their stroke. Making connections with others going through similar life challenges is a very important way to build community and continue on the path of recovery. The ongoing support of friends and family is also paramount to stroke recovery.
The BC Brain Injury Association (BCBIA) has produced a short video documentary in partnership with WorkSafe BC about the Palmer family’s experience. After being discharged from hospital following a brain injury, people often don’t know where to go and what to do to continue their recovery and receive further support. The Palmers hope their story will give voice to the need for improved services for stroke survivors after they have returned to the community. We’d like to extend a big thank you to Jeff Palmer and his family for being willing to share their story with us. We are grateful for their bravery and generosity in choosing to speak about their personal lives and challenges. Their strength and courage to keep working together on the road to recovery is an inspiration to all. Read the blog post about
Read more about the The Palmer’s story here in our blog post.
You can also find a list of stroke recovery supports and resources on our Resources page.