Neurology Consultant, P.A.

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

70% of adults in the U.S. do not have a will. Having a will is a simple yet deeply caring way to look after the people you love. It ensures your wishes are clearly known, reduces uncertainty during an already emotional time, and helps prevent unnecessary stress or conflict for your family. A will allows you to provide guidance, protection, and peace of mind—offering one final act of care by making things easier for those who matter most.

Including Meritus Health Foundation in your will allows you to care for your loved ones while also creating a lasting legacy. Every gift—no matter the size—helps Meritus Health care for our community. Through this thoughtful act, you extend your compassion beyond your lifetime—supporting the health and well-being of your community for generations to come, while ensuring your values continue to make a meaningful impact.

Free Will here: https://partner.freewill.com/meritushealthfoundation

04/06/2026

Proud Meritus moment 💙
Our very own Dr. Aaron E. George, Associate Dean of Clinical Education at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, is serving on the Family Medicine Education Consortium (FMEC) Board—helping shape the future of family medicine education.

Way to represent Meritus Health! 👏

04/06/2026

Living with Aphasia: A Battle with Words

When I first began to speak again after my stroke, my speech was painfully slow, often slurred, and unrecognizable. At first, I could only manage a single word—a nonsensical, meaningless sound that became my automatic response to everything. I knew the right words in my head, but this absurd word was the only one that would come out. It wasn’t a word I had ever heard before, yet it became my entire vocabulary.

The word? Narwagi.

Imagine the frustration—years of education, a lifetime of conversations, and now my entire world was reduced to Narwagi.

But from the very beginning, I refused to drown in self-pity. I knew that would only hold me back.

As I slowly regained some control over my speech, I was mortified by the sound of my own voice. It was unfamiliar, rough, with an odd growling intonation that made me feel even more self-conscious. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t my voice.

Speaking became an exhausting, deliberate process. I would spend ages searching for the right word, only for a jumbled, awkward phrase to emerge—if I was lucky. Conversations felt like they were happening in slow motion, my brain running at the wrong speed. And when the words finally came out, they were slurred, labored—like a werewolf on Va**um.

I had the overwhelming urge to tell people: This isn’t my real voice! I wasn’t drunk. I wasn’t on drugs. Inside, my mind felt hurt, painful, and numb—all at the same time.

So many of my neural pathways had been damaged or destroyed by a massive hemorrhagic stroke. Finding the right words takes far longer than it used to. If you’ve ever had a word on the tip of your tongue but couldn’t quite grasp it, imagine that feeling—multiplied by fifty. That’s what it’s like.

It’s exhausting.

I think of my brain like a giant conveyor belt in a well-oiled factory. When everything is running smoothly, people work efficiently, and tasks get done without a hitch. But with Aphasia, it’s like that famous I Love Lucy episode—the one where Lucy and Ethel are overwhelmed by chocolates flying down the conveyor belt, struggling to keep up, everything quickly spinning out of control. That’s my brain now. Words don’t come easily; they take time. Healing takes time. Relearning takes time. And patience—so much patience.

One of the hardest parts? Dealing with people who don’t understand—who assume, judge, or talk down to you. That’s a pain Aphasia survivors know all too well. And on top of it all, many of us are also battling physical disabilities and relentless fatigue.

But if you’re determined, time and practice will become your allies. Slowly, you build stamina. You develop new skills. You keep pushing forward.

I can’t fully explain Aphasia—it’s just one piece of the massive puzzle. But I can tell you this: it won’t define me.

And it won’t defeat me.

Yvonne Kent PaterasTom & Salud’s Real Life Re-doTom & Salud’s Real Life Re-doStrive For Greatness-Let’s Talk StrokeStroke Support GROUPInspirational quotes

04/06/2026

04/06/2026

✨ 2026 is going to be BIG 🚀

The Miles for Migraine Walk/Run/Relax Event series is heading to cities across the country and we want YOU to be part of it!

Whether you walk, run, fundraise, or just come to connect… every event is a chance to come together with people who get it.

* 18+ cities
* Free 2-mile walk + Relax activities
* Timed 5K run option
* Community, education & support
* Every step supports migraine & headache research, treatment & awareness

From Connecticut to California, Florida to Colorado, we’re moving miles, for migraine.

📍 Find your city (or take part virtually from anywhere)
👟 Start a team
💜 Make an impact

Let’s show up, speak out, and move the needle for migraine together.

See full details and sign up today (link in comments)

03/15/2026

03/15/2026

It can be so tempting to reach for one of those snazzy energy drinks when you're feeling that migraine fatigue or afternoon slump. But you might want to think twice before you crack one open. Energy drinks not only contain caffeine — a double-edged sword for those with migraine, but other ingredients that may be triggers, too. https://bit.ly/4lq8yyz

03/15/2026

03/15/2026

03/15/2026

02/23/2026

🧡 National MS Education and Awareness Month is right around the corner! Did you know creates an annual toolkit in honor of full of helpful, up-to-date information that members of the MS community, supporters, and professionals can use?

Don't miss out and make sure you get yours for this year's NMSEAM straight to your inbox by signing up for any of our mailing lists! 👉 https://msfocus.us/46h8ydP