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Contact: Donna Mancuso
Public Affairs Manager
(732) 499-6118
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For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Hospital Stroke Club Marks 10th Anniversary
For Imediate Release
Rahway – The Stroke Club at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a party featuring John Kawie, a comedian and stroke survivor.
The club, which meets the second Thursday of each month at the hospital, is more than a support group, says speech therapist Judith Diem who started the club ten years ago. “Our patients often tell us that they want to get past the stroke,” she added, noting that the club also holds educational programs on topics that include safe driving, identity theft, crime prevention and fad diets.
Stroke survivor Charlotte Kaczoswki credits her monthly stroke club meeting for getting back in the car and driving. “Wanting to go to the club each month – needing to go to the meetings – got me driving,” says the Linden resident, who is one of the club’s original members.
The Stroke Club’s 10th anniversary party featured entertainment by New York-based comedian and stroke survivor John Kawie, who amused the audience with stories about his home health aides, his therapists and fellow stroke survivors he met during rehabilitation.
Kaczowski and some 35 invited guests laughed when Kawie modeled a raincoat lined with colorful Post-It Notes Kawie uses to remind him of what he has to do. He ended his routine, entitled “Brain Freeze” by congratulating the Stroke Club members for participating in the club and making great strides in their recovery.
For more information about the club, call the Hospital’s Speech Therapy Department at 732-499-2115.
Longtime stroke club members Dick Bennett and Charlotte Kaczowski are congratulated
by Arlene Tomchik, Vice President of Nursing Services (left) and speech therapists
Bervessa Morgan and Lisa Geary.
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