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Hi! My name is Joanie Peckels. I had a carotid dissection 27 years ago when I was 35. When I had my stroke I was totally paralyzed on my right side and I could not speak at all for 2 weeks. During that time I could not read or add 1 and 1 together and was not able to identify objects placed in front of me. I had two little kids aged 6 and 8. I was right handed but now I’m left handed for the second half of my life! I have come a long way and now, I volunteer at PeaceHeath SW hospital as a Stroke Ambassador and I am a grandma! I have helped run the PeaceHealth Stroke and Brain Injury Group with the Stroke Coordinators there for about 19 years.
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My contact info is 360-907-4457 or strokeambassador@gmail.com
Keep on scrolling for Zoom info! |
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Hi Stroke & Brain Injury Group!
Zoom is Wednesday at 11:00 and Take Your Brain Out to Play is Saturday at 1:30! Details below!
Take Your Brain Out to Play is Saturday, June 13th!! I reserved the Battle Ground Senior Center from 12:30-5:00. That gives us an hour to set up and a half hour to take it all down. So the event is 1:30-4:30. The address is 116 NE 3rd, Battle Ground. We have our own parking lot and there is easy street parking if we happen to fill it. The Backstrokes will not be coming! I am so bummed! But, I have a lot of fun activities planned! Bring a friend or two! If someone could volunteer to bring some water and some kind of snack like granola bars it would be great! Please let me know!
I got a call from Dr Kevin Farnham DACM, LAc (Acupuncture) who specializes in stroke relief. He wants to come talk to us at our in person meeting on the 17th!
Of immediate concern is that Vivian's son Daniel has been diagnosed with an extremely aggressive oral cancer called NUT carcinoma. He is only 29, the same age Vivian was when she had her stroke. He is being treated at OHSU but he will have to go to Boston June 9th to have surgery there. More of Vivian's update: "His pet scan Tuesday came back with a 50% reduction in tumor size and no spread to major organs. It’s just staying in the head and neck area. That’s good news. We are grateful.""His growth is getting smaller, that's good news. After 3 rounds of chemo/immunotherapy, he will be having surgery on his growth the beginning of June in Boston. We will be staying in Boston for most of the summer. He will recuperate then he will get radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Then we will see how he is doing. God willing he will be in remission."There is a Go Fund Me for him. If you want to donate I can get it to the family. Please pray, have positive thoughts for the whole family.
I booked all of our functions for next year! They are:
*Take Your Brain Out to Play June 13th, Battle Ground Senior Center, 116 NE 3rd Ave. New location!
*Picnic, July 18th, Vancouver Lake, South Heron Shelter
*Christmas Party, December 12th, Battle Ground Senior Center, 116 NE 3rd Ave. New Location!
Someone left a brown leather jacket at the Christmas party! I thought it was one of the Backstrokes but no one has claimed it. Did one of you leave it? I have it so call or text me if it is yours! 360-907-4457.
*Kristen Slater, the Stroke Coordinator at PeaceHealth, is planning DR. JD Miller Conference has been scheduled for September 19th. She still would like a few people from our group, with their partners, to speak to the group at the end telling your story and how far you have come. Interested? Please let me know!
Joanie
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If anyone is interested in our last speaker, Macauley O'Connor's great product that helps our walking through music, here is his card. At Zoom he also gave us his personal cell number 973-747-5450 |
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One of our survivors told me about a free ride service! Community In Motion 360-735-3680. |
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I told everyone about a great free service on helping you navigate insurance/medicare. Here is his card. |
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UPCOMING DATES!
June 10, Wednesday, 11:00 Zoom
June 13, Take Your Brain Out to Play! 2:00-4:30, Battle Ground Senior Center, 116 NE 3rd Ave
June 17, Wednesday, 1:30, Our In Person Meeting-Dr Kevin Farnham will be talking about acupuncture
June 24, NO Zoom, We'll be in Phoenix attending a wedding reception at the Zoo! Hot, Hot, Hot!!
July 1, Wednesday, 1:00, Our Lunch Date
July 8, Wednesday, 11:00, Zoom
July 15, Wednesday, 1:30, Our In Person Meeting
July 18, Picnic, 12:00, Vancouver Lake, South Heron Shelter
July 22, Wednesday, 11:00, Zoom
July 29, Wednesday, 11:00, Zoom
We Take the Month of August Off!
December 12, Christmas Party, 12:00, Battle Ground Senior Center, 116 NE 3rd Ave
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Zoom is Wednesday This Week!
Joanie Peckels is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Joanie Peckels’ Stroke & Brain Injury Zoom Meeting!
Time: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83555197874?pwd=82gBjdVI1UCa6z8lZw2SdbEAjXboIQ.1
Meeting ID: 835 5519 7874
Passcode: 616283
One tap mobile
+12532050468,,83555197874#,,,,*616283# US
+12532158782,,83555197874#,,,,*616283# US (Tacoma)
Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/83555197874/invitations?signature=HYO8DKGF_Q_cwAu0TFoKgkvxo9txwAhkb2Qw0xs6py0
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Our newest flyer with new date and time of our in person meeting! |
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Joyce Hoffman's and Sara Riggs Brain Exchange.
Brain Exchange, EXCLUSIVELY for STROKE AND OTHER TBI SURVIVORS – THE-FIRST-EVER and INTERNATIONAL– does several things: Sign up at: https://www.dearjoyce.club/join/
1. You're matched to someone in a 1:1 writing partnership through ongoing emails.
2. We’ll meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday on Zoom of every month to experience mind exercises and intuitive speakers!.
3. A Facebook page has been started called (no surprise here) “Brain Exchange” to socialize, hear stories from stroke and other TBI survivors, and be aware of new strategies that may be helpful.
4. A 1:1 private mentorship program has begun.
5. An open letter in which members share their concerns.
6. Aside from Joyce’s blog, Tales of a Stroke Survivor, members are encouraged to write their own blogs.
7. Forum where you can open your heart without shame or criticism.
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Our In Person Meeting is the 3rd WEDNESDAY of the month at 1:30! The next one will be June 17th!
We will still do Zoom on Wednesdays at 11:00. But, not on the week that we do the in person meeting or the lunch.
NEW LOCATION! The address is:
The Gathering Church
2500 NE 78th St, Vancouver, WA 98665
Paddon Parkway West turns into NE 78th St. It is at the corner of NE 78th St and NE 26th Ave. Coming from the East it is on the right hand side of the road, there is a driveway there. The meeting is in the Fellowship Hall and it is the left doorway when you are looking at the front. If you are coming from the West, turn left at the light on NE 26th Ave, then turn right into the back parking lot and drive around the church to the front parking lot. You can do that too if you miss the driveway coming from the East. Just turn right at the light on NE 26th Ave, then turn right into the back parking lot, then drive around the church to the front parking lot. |
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Our lunch date is every 1st Wednesday of the month at 1:00! The next one will be Wednesday, June 3rd!
The Address is:
Kitchen Table Cafe
705 NE 136th Ave (across from Firstenburg Center)
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Great Websites or Services!
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Great OT~Megan Shah, OTR/L, Orca Therapy Clinic/Owner, megan@orcatherapy.com
Training for a job~Vocational Rehabilitation - Vancouver Office | DSHS https://www.dshs.wa.gov/location/dshs-dvr-vancouver
Yoga For Your Brain~ "LoveYourBrain Mindset" mindset@loveyourbrain.com
Peak Pro App~ Fun and challenging! $37.93 per year from your app store.
CDM~Great for for socializing, doing Zoom every weekday at the moment. They play games, sing, do art projects (supplies are delivered to you) and when it is in person they give each client a free Cvan bus pass. Website: cdmcaregiving.org 360-896-9695 Email: info@cdmcaregiving.org
Comcast Affordable High Speed Internet~ $9.95 a month!!
www.Internetessentials.com. SSI/medicaid/Housing Assistance qualify. They also have low cost computers.
OT Lifestyle Solutions~ A great Facebook page by Occupational Therapist Sue Doyle. She always posts great ideas and info on Stroke Rehabilitation, Home Safety & Accessibility Evaluations, Fall Prevention and of course Occupation Therapy. She also has her own business. 360-723-5145. http://www.otlifestylesolutions.com/
Sitting Tai Chi & Gentle Exercises~ DianeToland@aol.com. 360-953-0399.
Northwest Brain Network~ Lets you know about The Backstrokes and NUMEROUS other speakers and information. https://www.nwbrain.network/. Zoom Backstrokes is at 11:00 Mondays and speakers are at various times.
SATBIL Magazine~ Lots of information and stories by stroke and brain injury people. SATBILMagazine@gmail.com
Loving Them Forward~ A fantastic local organization that has vetted businesses to help with just about anything you can think of! Christina Keys at loveingthemforward@gmail.com or https://lovingthemforward.org
Brain Injury Connections-NW (BIC-NW)~A Portland organization that provides lots of local info. info@bicnw.org
A FaceBook Group Called: Stroke Caregiving “Wives” Only
A Caring Closet~ An excellent place to get used durable medical equipment for free! And also to donate to it as well. 360-258-0039 7500 NE 16th Ave Suite 1C, Vancouver WA 98665. acaringcloset.org is their website. Hours are 10:00-1:00 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of SW Washington~ They offer a multitude of programs, most them need based but there are some that everyone can participate in. www.HelpingElders.org is an awesome site. Information & Assistance 360-694-8144. 201 NE 73rd St, Ste 201, Vancouver. iaclark@dshs.wa.gov
C-Van~ For those who can’t drive. There is a form for you and your doctor to fill out. They will take you anywhere within their boundaries. It doesn’t have to be medical but you do have contact them ahead of time. The cost per ride is $1.80, for each direction. Not need based but you have to be a certain distance from a bus stop. www.c.tran.com 360-695-0123.
Brain Injury Alliance of Washington~ biawa.org
AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION~ stroke.org
Post Concussion Syndrome~ A Facebook Group
LIFE AFTER STROKE: EDUCATION & CONNECTION
2nd Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Register by emailing: LIFEAFTERSTROKE@providence.org~ A Zoom Meeting
Bri Fairley, M.S. CCC-SLP, President, Founder Atlas Aphasia Center
Website: www.atlasaphasia.org Phone: 206-256-1168 Email: bri@atlasaphasia.org ~ Offering Speech Therapy
Boomerang Therapy Works~ Excellent Physical Therapy! NEW LOCATION! As of May 11th, 717 Grand Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661. 360-258-1637. boomerangpt365@gmail.com. http.//boomerangtherapyworks.com/ |
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Movies
Aphasia- Hope Is a Four Letter Word. By Carl McIntyre, an actor and Stroke Survivor. The movie itself is only 40 min but there are several interviews with his Speech Pathologist, Denise Caignon and renowned Speech Pathologist Dr. Nancy Helm-Estabrooks. 2012
A Not So Still Life- The Ginny Ruffner Story. A Brain Injury Survivor. 2010
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Carl McIntyre and Hope Is A Four Letter Word |
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Books
If you look under “Stroke and Brain Injury” on Amazon you will find a myriad of books on recovery. These are the ones that I know of personally or have been recommended to me. Several of them I purchased as audio back in the day, either cassette tape or CD.
Hope Heals. By Katherine & Jay Wolf. A great story of stroke survival.
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My Stroke of Luck. By Kirk Douglas. His own personal story.
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Kate’s Journey. By Kate Adamson. OR |
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Kate Adamson Paralyzed but Not Powerless. Kate’s Journey Revised.
Her story of surviving a brain stem stroke and locked-in syndrome. I have seen her speak twice. Once in Appleton, WI, and once with Holly in Salem, OR. Very good. |
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Gabby: A Story of Courage & Hope. By Gabby Giffords & Mark Kelly. She was a politician (still is I think!) who was shot in the head while at an event. This was really good on audio. It is read by Mark Kelly, her astronaut husband and Gabby herself. Like a lot of brain injuries, she presents as if she had a stroke.
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Change in the Weather: Life After the Stroke. By Mark McEwen a TV weather man who had his stroke on an airplane. Or
After the Stroke My Journey Back to Life. By Mark McEwen & Daniel Paisner (I think they are the same book published different years but I could be mistaken!) |
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My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey. By Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD. |
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One Handed in a Two Handed World. By Tommye-K. Mayer. A great book with all kinds of ideas to do frustrating things with one hand. |
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Stronger After Stroke, Third Edition: Your Roadmap to Recovery . By Peter Lavine |
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Healing & Happiness After Stroke for Caregivers & Survivors: The Holistic Guide to Getting Your Life Back. By Tsgoyna Tanzman |
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Post-Concussion Syndrome: An Evidence Based Approach. By William D. Boyd |
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The Brain's Way of Healing: Remarkable Discoveries and Recoveries from the Frontiers of Neuroplasticity |
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NW Brain Network
Portland, Oregon
@Copyright 2020 Northwest Brain Network
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