FORMER Islander Sarah Lock is helping a pensioner overcome the devastating effects of a stroke through her work as a speech therapist in Australia.

Sarah, a former writer and subeditor for Michael Stephen Publishers in Jersey, is carrying out her treatment at the new Eden Rehabilitation Centre in Cooroy, Queensland.

After almost 50 years of marriage, Stan and Corrie Hendriksen could almost read each other’s thoughts. But after developing Alzheimer’s disease Mrs Hendriksen began to lose her ability to remember words. She then lost nearly all her speech after suffering a stroke following a routine operation on her shoulder.

Sarah, who left Jersey in the 1990s, said that her work could help those who have lost all or part of their speech.
She said: ‘A word might be on the tip of the tongue – they know what they want to say but can’t say it. ‘We find out what has happened and target the bits that are damaged and help them to regain their skills.’

Stan said that he had high hopes that his wife would become more fluent. He said: ‘She is starting to express herself. We have got notebooks everywhere – we are quite prepared to fight back. We all take for granted that we can communicate but when we are confronted by it, it can be quite difficult.’

• Picture: Working with her patients in Australia