Jocelyn Burgener
  • Home
  • Naked Under My Coat
    • Poetry
    • Reviews
    • 2014 Book Launch
  • Jocelyn's story at TED Talks
  • Jocelyn's Blog
  • Contact

Inspiration

6/19/2014

0 Comments

 

Judy Stawnychko retires after 21 years as Executive Director of the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured

Picture
Mike would kiss my hand, and tell me I was beautiful and that he loved me. His smile was as enthusiastic as his grip. You read about politicians getting perks - these greetings from Mike were definitely perks!

(Note to Ethics Commissioner: Value: Priceless)

In 1993 I was the newly elected MLA for the riding of Calgary Currie. Six years earlier Mike had survived a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of a car accident. Consequently, Mike was enrolled in a variety of programs at ARBI, the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured.

Mike is also the son of my friend Judy Stawnychko. Judy is retiring this month after serving 21 years as executive director of ARBI.

I learned about community, and the importance of advocacy, though my association with ARBI. Professional, compassionate, and dedicated, Judy turned a life-altering experience into purpose, taking inspiration from others, while dispensing wisdom in equal measures of reality and hope.

Even with all his enthusiasm, Mike couldn’t imagine his mother’s impact on his quality of life, and on the future care and treatment of the brain injured and stroke survivors. Judy knows, but would deflect the credit to others, like 2004 Order of Canada recipient, the late Audrey Morrice and ARBI co- founder Alice Laine.

Judy inspires me.




0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Dance
    Music
    Naked Under My Coat
    Parkinson's

    Archives

    May 2020
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.