Stephen Gibbs: Wellington Community Aphasia Advisor

Many of us know of the crippling effects a stroke or head injury can have on the physical abilities of a person. Few are aware of that damage to the language centre of the brain can leave a person trapped inside their heads, struggling to express thoughts, fears, feelings, or even the most basic of needs.

This is known as aphasia.

The chances of you knowing someone affected by aphasia are high – you just may not know what to call the problems with their speech and language.

Stephen Gibbs, AphasiaNZ’s Wellington Community Aphasia Advisor (CAA), has been providing support services, resources, education and information to those living with aphasia in the Wellington region since June 2016.

At 6.40am on the 21st January 2015, Stephen’s life changed forever when a clot lodged in the left hemisphere of his brain. A previous teacher of maths and music, a journalist, musician and composer, Stephen was lucky - his wife, a nurse, realised what was happening, and he had prompt clot-busting treatment in Wellington Hospital.

Stephen is still working on his aphasia, and feels that he is in a privileged position to understand what people with aphasia and their support people are going through. He has travelled their journey and can be an advocate and resource for people who are new to the world of aphasia.

Alongside raising awareness about the effects of aphasia on individuals and families, the CAA service is critical to helping those with aphasia reintegrate into the community. Stephen has had a positive impact on hundreds of people affected by aphasia in the Wellington, Hutt Valley, Kapiti and Porirua regions

The Aphasia New Zealand (AphasiaNZ) Charitable Trust provides the CAA service in a number of locations around New Zealand, including the Wellington region. However a lack of funding means the Wellington service will not be available beyond March 2017 if funding is not found.

AphasiaNZ is a charity which does not receive any government funding. We have struggled to secure grants and donations to enable service delivery in the Wellington region in particular. We have applied to many organisations but been turned down...and are now in a position where unless we can find funding in the next 4 – 6 weeks, we will have no choice but to discontinue Stephen’s role.

Help us to continue the Wellington Community Aphasia Advisor (CAA) role by donating today.

Please have a look at the following short video about Stephen and his stroke - it screened on Seven Sharp:

http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/amazing-singer-left-speechless-stroke-video-6389029