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APHASIA DIARY

This diary is about my on-going experience of aphasia. I am not an expert. The diary sometimes ambles into other observations. Ignore them if you like. NHS: Aphasia is a condition that makes it difficult to communicate. It can make it hard to speak, read, write and understand others. Jane Austen: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good life must be in want of a wife. Jonathan: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a mingled man in possession of aphasia must be in want of a life. I find it very difficult to correct spelling errors. I have used the “Spelling” tool on my laptop, but things slip through. I’ve done my best. Everything is true except some aspects of my mother (which I think that she would like), and the end of the Third Section where the diagnosis was fabricated.

November 2025: Diagnosis Delayed

Fifth Session ………. I thought that the outcome from the 10th October would be a definate diagnosis. Far from it. The Consultant Neurologist, also named Jonathan, greeted Chris and me. The neurologist had received a comprehensive report from the Speech and Language Therapist. Other reports, and the MRI scan, weren’t there. He took about 40 minutes asking questions, also physical: walking straight (difficult with my flat feet), balance, etc. He said he couldn't give me a diagnosis at this ...
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August-November 2025: The Aphasia Social Club (part 2)

I introduced you to the Aphasia Social Club in the First Session. I now know more of the Club. I have gone to all of the sessions for, maybe, 12 meetings. A person I knew was already one of the members. That made things easier, but the people are so friendly. Aphasia stats suggest that there are more women than men, but the men in our group are very much in the majority. We usually have about 20 members every week. We also have volunteers. Some are Speech and Language Therapists, or tr...
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July-August 2025: Muscle Memories

Third Section …..….. Corrections: My brother Andrew said that our Dad’s favourite song was Chattanooga Choo Choo. It does ring a bell. Rosie said that she doesn’t remember being hoisted on my shoulders. I remember it. Maybe only once. But so there. First thing is: I have been scheduled for a scan. It will be 14th July 2025. It was a couple of weeks later that expected, but Chris and I are pleased. To celebrate, here is a quiz: Where do you think the scan (or MRI, or Magnetic Reson...
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Mid 2025: Entry 2

Second Section ………. Over the years I have played different sports. At the moment it is badminton and mixed netball (netball without running or jumping). I also go to aqua sessions at the Prince Regent Swimming Complex. Since the last 2 years, my badminton is getting erratic, particularly when I am serving. The problem is that serving requires a decision. I frequently miss. What I now do is to aim to the middle of the service. I know the shuttlecock will go somewhere else, but if I don’t ...
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April 2025: Holidays and Discoveries

First Section ………. It started around April 2022. I promise that this will not be all gloom. It was then when things were going wrong. James and Rosie, my step children (children! in 2022 they were 41 and 35) said they were worried about me. I was forgetting things, memories, scrabbled words, or nothing came out. Chris, my wife, said that a few people had “lost my spark”. I didn’t know what was wrong, but I think that having a Interrail holiday didn’t help. It happened like this. In May 202...
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