Friends of Aphasia

Hello. I am Fabi Hirsch Kruse, the CEO and Director of Clinical Services at Friends of Aphasia. Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and I co-founded Friends of Aphasia to help people living with aphasia regain their ability to communicate after a stroke or brain injury.

On the weekend of January 28, 2023, thieves broke into our Aphasia Center through a window. They ransacked our offices and stole almost every piece of electronic equipment that we use to run our programs - laptops, iPads, projectors, etc. They even took our space heater, COVID air purifier, and vacuum cleaner. We just learned that although we have insurance, it does not cover loss due to theft. And the leasing company that manages our Aphasia Center is refusing to replace the glass window or the locks. So, we are reaching out to the community for help.

Our $10,000 goal will help us replace the stolen items, fix the window and locks, and upgrade our security (new cameras, lights, etc.) to help ensure that this never happens again.

You can make a difference by donating today to Friends of Aphasia to support our recovery efforts.

Here is a little more about our organization:

Imagine losing, in an instant, your ability to communicate. Imagine struggling to say your name, write a simple email, or read the newspaper. These are realities for individuals living with aphasia.

If you are like most people, you’ve probably never heard the word aphasia. Aphasia is a communication disorder that robs individuals of their ability to speak, understand, read, and/or write. Typically, it results from a stroke, but it can also be caused by a traumatic brain injury, a brain tumor, a brain infection, or brain degeneration. Despite limited public awareness, aphasia is far from rare; it affects over two million Americans. And that number continues to grow as our population ages and as medical advances increasingly save the lives of individuals who suffer strokes and other brain injuries.

To help the growing number of people affected by this devastating disorder, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Speech-Language Pathologist Dr. Fabi Hirsch Kruse co-founded Friends of Aphasia (FoA). FoA improves the lives of those living with aphasia, their families, and their communities by providing quality, person-centered aphasia services focused on re-engagement in meaningful life activities.

Our Mission

Friends of Aphasia strives to enhance the lives of those living with aphasia, including individuals who have aphasia, their families, and their community, through efforts to support the following: (a) access to quality, patient-centered aphasia therapy services focused on participation in meaningful life activities; (b) development and implementation of community education, advocacy, and outreach programs; and (c) research aimed at advancing innovative and effective aphasia treatment approaches.

For more information, check out our website (https://friendsofaphasia.com/).