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MedWatch: Grand Traverse Bay Area Stroke Club

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the U.S.

It doesn’t just affect patients, but their families, children and caregivers.

It can also lead to depression and isolation.        

But victims and their teams can find solace and support … For free.

Michelle Dunaway explains in today’s MedWatch report.     

Life is not the same for Barb Berry since she had a stroke two years ago.

"I was at a pontoon boat in Torch Lake and we had just stopped at the little bar on Torch River, and I went to get up and I couldn’t get up. The whole right side just went numb on me," explains Barb.

She got to Munson Medical Center right away, and after a lot of therapy, she’s made huge progress — and wants to continue that trend.

Today she’s got a little extra help behind her.

"Before I went to Stroke Club, I went to a doctor and he said he thought I had plateaued. Well, I continued to improve since then, to the point where I can drive a car, I got my license back, and that’s most important thing I personally got from it."

Barb is a member of the .

A group that’s helped encourage her growth and recovery.

"The group was designed to provide an opportunity for stroke survivors and their families to come together for support, for education, to exchange information and to socialize," says Melinda Hollands, M.S.W.

Melinda Hollands is the facilitator for the club that’s been around more than three decades.

A testament to what it does for its members.

"The Stroke Club affords an opportunity for people to come and to feel safe, and feel accepted, and feel supported, where they are in their stroke recovery and that is the beautiful nature of the group," says Melinda.

"I just think it’s so important for stroke survivors to come and not be embarrassed by their infirmaries, to gain a positive outlook and to realize that the recovery can be a long slow recovery, and that you may never get back what you originally had, but you can improve and have friends and share stories," says Barb.

Munson encourages stroke survivors to join.

There is medical proof this helps with recovery, because patients are often depressed.

"Depression keeps people in the house and not socializing with others being able to get out and make those human connections, and share experiences, and socialize together is very uplifting, and it’s clearly known that people who are in a more positive place in their emotional life heal better," says neurologist Kersti Bruining, M.D.

The club meets once a month, and they bring in different speakers.

"From health care professionals coming to share their expertise, community resources that are helpful for people to provide health, wellness and coping with their strokes," says Melinda

And for Barb, it’s helped her regain more independence — pushing her to work harder — and improve herself every day.

"I try to keep a very positive attitude and try to surround myself with positive people. They encourage me to go on and it made me be able to say, ‘I know you can get down those steps better today than you did last week’ and that’s encouragement,” says Barb.