Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery

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September 26, 2018 by Angela

Volunteer Betty Schrohe Helps Survivors Rediscover Their Voice

Photo of John and Betty reading

Volunteer Betty listens on as John practices his reading and speech skills with a book about Albert Einstein

At Schurig Center, “it takes a village” isn’t just a cliché, it’s the key to our success. We are deeply grateful for Betty Schrohe, one of the caring members of our active community of volunteers and donors whose contributions of time and talent power our programs.

Betty’s training in speech therapy and experience working with stroke survivors and children with disabilities were a natural fit for volunteering at Schurig Center, so she decided to jump in. For almost 10 years, Betty has assisted weekly in classes and worked individually with clients who have aphasia to help them improve their reading and speech skills by reading books aloud together. In a recent interview, Betty expressed that she has found it very gratifying to be able to assist people on their journey to recovery. She also mentioned particularly enjoying her work with stroke survivor John Nelson and shared:

“It’s exciting to watch John’s progress over time. Some days are quite challenging for him, so it’s especially exciting to be with him to celebrate on days when his speech and reading seem to be more effortless. You can really feel how much it means to him.”

Ongoing rehabilitation, like speech therapy, is critical to rebuilding skills after a stroke. Our center relies on the support of people like Betty, and you, to offer an array of services, which are designed specifically to help brain injury survivors improve their abilities. You help provide innovative, high-quality services that are not available anywhere else in our area. YOU truly are the difference that makes a difference. Thank you!

Did you know?

About 25 to 40% of stroke survivors acquire aphasia.

What is aphasia?

Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that impairs a person’s ability to process language, speak, understand others, read, and/or write.

Filed Under: A Day at the Center, Blog, Community Partnerships, Rebuilding Life Skills, Stroke, Thank You Community Supporters, Volunteer, Ways You Can Help Tagged With: Marin, Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery, stroke, volunteer

September 6, 2018 by Angela

Schurig Center Gets a Face-lift

Thanks to you, a “home away from home” will be standing strong to welcome the community for years to come.

Photo of Dennis and karen

Supporter Dennis Gilardi and founder Karen Schurig celebrate as Schurig Center ‘lands’ in its permanent location in 2005

For the people who come through our doors, Schurig Center is a safe, welcoming, and supportive place where they can be themselves and explore new areas of growth and possibility while being with others who understand.

After more than a decade of normal wear and tear and rainy seasons, our building needed some T.L.C. This spring, thanks to you, the center received dry rot repair and a fresh coat of paint to help prolong its life for years to come. In the last year, an interior wall was also added to create an extra room for individual Occupational and Speech Therapy sessions.

Big thanks to… Cahill Contractors, The Bothin Foundation, Valdez Painting and the many people who donated to the building repair project.

We hope you’ll stop by soon for a visit!

Photo of Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery

Schurig Center today.

Filed Under: A Day at the Center, Blog, Community Partnerships, Thank You Community Supporters, Ways You Can Help Tagged With: Cahill Contractors, Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery, The Bothin Foundation, Valdez Painting

July 30, 2018 by Angela

Like a Sunflower

Conceived and collaboratively written by Therapeutic Program participants in honor of their amazing family members and caregivers. To download and print a copy of the poem with original sunflower artwork created by Schurig Center artists, click here.


Photo of sunflower artwork collageBefore I was thrown off the path of my life,
I was me and you were you.
Whether you joined this journey before or after,
Thank you dearly for all you do.

You take me out to see
The sea
The Bay
The world
Because of you my isolation has uncurled.

Like a sunflower, you help me expand
my horizons, petal by petal, moment by small moment.

Your allowing me to be steeped in this world is everything.
Everything!

I pet an animal, give it food.
I feel the sandy beach improve my mood.

Like a sunflower
you are biggest when you are slow with me.
Strong in your attention to my pace;
Matching me there you show your grace.

Loving me may sometimes be hard,
yet overall your care for me remains unmarred.
You’ve stood with me after head injury,
even when it’s hard to love myself and not get testy.

Your patience and belief in me are enduring gifts.
Your encouragement fills me even when your presence drifts.
At life’s darkest you wove my past into hopeful future possibility.

>Even in the hospital you made the case.
You said I’m brave, smart, athletic, powerful.

Still you whisper, or shout:
Go for it!
You can do it!

You tell me, told me.
Believe in yourself!
You are a fighter, a competitor!

And oh yeah, you said:
You are darn funny, too.
Silly, special you.

At Schurig we learned a quote
that Simone Weil wrote:
“Attention is the rarest form of generosity,”
she said, not knowing she spoke of your luminosity.

Today I celebrate your care and your heart
Trying to capture them with my art.

Grasping at words like a wishing star,
humbly honoring the Sunflower you are.

Filed Under: A Day at the Center, Blog, For Family & Caregivers, For Survivors Tagged With: art, caregivers, gratitude, Marin, poem, poetry, Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery, sunflower

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1132 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur, CA 94939
(415) 461-6771
501(c)(3) Charity #68-0105213
Legal Name: Marin Brain Injury Network



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