Searching for the right words
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 26, 2017 10:07 AM
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News-Argus/SETH COMBS
Jeff Chapin, school nurse at Meadow Lane Elementary and Greenwood Middle schools, struggles to get the words out during a speech exercise with his speech therapist, Teisa Kaczynski, SLP, at Wayne Memorial Hospital. He had his first stroke the third day of school and a second one in February, which have affected his ability to speak.
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Jeff Chapin carries a notebook with this written statement inside in case he ever finds himself in a situation that requires him to explain his aphasia.
Jeff Chapin is at a loss for words.
He loves to talk.
His bubbly personality has always spilled out through his smile and animated expressions.
Those are still there, but the aftermath of two strokes since the school year began have left "Nurse Jeff" struggling to speak.
The school nurse who split his time between Meadow Lane Elementary and Greenwood Middle schools had "absolutely no risk factors" for stroke, says his wife of 24 years, Dorothy.
He rode his bike 15 to 20 miles a day, she said. He didn't have high cholesterol or blood pressure.
So on the third day of school in August, when he woke up more tired than usual, he chalked it up to adjusting to the new schedule.
"When he got to work, he'd only been there a few minutes, they called him up to the office. They noticed his speech was slurred," Mrs. Chapin said. "That's when they called the ambulance.
"By the time we all got there and we were asking questions he couldn't tell us anything."
After a brief hospitalization, part of his homework when he was discharged was to work on his vowel sounds.
"That's where we started," his wife said. "I think we had our first speech therapy session the next week and by that session we were able to get those vowel sounds out, with some words."
He made great strides and had gotten back about 80 percent of his speech. He was contemplating returning to work.
Then on Feb. 10, while at home, he had another stroke.
"(This one) affected a different part of his brain, so he has a lot of trouble with recall and memory," Mrs. Chapin said. "So what he learned this week at speech therapy, or if he learned anything today, he would not be able to repeat it to me this afternoon.
"He's still making progress but it's slower because it's hard to build on it."
This time around has been more of a challenge, the couple admits.
"It took about six weeks for him to be able to consistently tell me what his name was," Mrs. Chapin said.
"And now I can say, 'Jeff. Jeff Chapin.' So at least I can do that," her husband said.
"He knows exactly what he wants to say," Mrs. Chapin said. "He knows his name's Jeff Chapin. He's always known that. That's never been a deficit. But getting it out...."
Chapin, who turned 50 in July, is admittedly overwhelmed by his limitation.
Life for the parents of two sons -- Ethan, 19, and Tucker, 17 -- has also changed.
"We can't carry on a conversation," Mrs. Chapin said, likening it to a game show.
"It's kind of like playing $25,000 Pyramid," she said. "He'll try to tell us and we'll guess. He's not very good at charades. He gets so frustrated with us because we can't get it."
Sometimes he'll pull out a marker and write down what he wants to say.
His speech therapist has created a notebook -- filled with pictures of places he frequents, things he likes -- because doing even simple things like ordering food is now a challenge.
And driving, which he does to a lesser degree, could also be potentially problematic.
With the climate we now live in, Mrs. Chapin said she typed up a card for her husband to prevent issues if police pull him over. She said she doesn't want Chapin's inability to respond and provide an explanation to put him in a dangerous situation.
The card gives his name, his wife's name and phone number and explains that he has had a stroke and has difficulty talking.
"He knows exactly what's going on," she said. "He just can't let you know that he knows."
The Rosewood couple is still trying to figure out what caused the strokes.
He has seen a neurologist and is now wearing a heart monitor for 30 days.
He still works out and receives occupational and speech therapy.
He is also supported by the schools he has served for eight years.
"Nurse Jeff has been like a family member," said Michelle Gurley, counselor at MLE. "He came ready to serve and has done an exceptional job in building relationships with parents and students. He takes his job very seriously but finds time to make friends with the students, being a mentor to some while still meeting the medical needs of those who need his nursing skills."
Several efforts have been held to support the family, she said -- from a fundraiser at the hospital to a baked potato sale for staff during lunch and a T-shirt sale at the school.
It is all culminating this weekend in a "Just for Jeff" yard sale and chicken plate sale on Saturday. Themed baskets will also be raffled off. Baskets can be viewed at the school through Friday from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. in the school lobby.
The yard sale will be held in the Meadow Lane gym from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Danny Stanley's "famous barbecue chicken" plates will be on sale for $8, from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
The fundraiser is to help with the family's medical bills, Mrs. Gurley said.
"That's what this event is all about -- showing love to one of ours who has taken care of us during the good times and the bad," she said. "We want him to know just how much he means to us and how much we appreciate all he has done for his MLE family.
"Jeff is a great guy who is loved by his Meadow Lane and Greenwood family, the hospital and his Rosewood community."