“It was our first conversation, but it was as though we’d already spoken a million words. It was hugely emotional,” says Melanie Lewis. The GF Strong physiotherapist is reflecting on the moment two years ago when she reconnected with Christy Campbell, a former client of the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program. At 31, Christy had suffered a stroke.

Following the stroke, Christy couldn’t say two words – let alone a million. She had aphasia.

“You don’t remember everything about every patient,” says Melanie, now working with the Intensive Rehabilitation Day Program. “But Christy is one of those people I would have remembered even if we hadn’t got back in touch,” she explains, noting they were close in age.

Christy, who has relearned how to walk and talk, is now a spokesperson for aphasia. She and her husband Sean Standing co-founded the Sea-to-Sky Aphasia Camp with UBC associate professor Dr. Barbara Purves in 2010.

In recognition of her remarkable achievements, Christy was honoured on May 5 with a Coast Mental Health Courage to Come Back Award in the category of physical rehabilitation. And, Melanie was there to congratulate her.

At the gala (l to r): Robert Johnston, Christy’s private physiotherapist; Christy Campbell, award-winning ‘alum’ of GF Strong and Melanie Lewis, GF Strong physiotherapist.

“I was deeply honoured to be invited,” says Melanie. “Working with Christy was really fun and inspiring, and we both pushed each other to creative new heights in treatment. It’s so rewarding to play a role in clients’ recoveries.”

“When we were going through the process at GF Strong, Melanie was so fantastic and so supportive of Christy; she was a beacon of light and hope in our lives,” says Sean. “We’re so pleased she could join us at the gala.”

“Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives push us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us,” says Christy. And sometimes they’re people like Melanie and our GF Strong team.

For more on Christy’s story, click the image below to view the Vancouver Sun video and story.

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Coast Mental Health Courage to Come Back Award: Christy Campbell