Megan Needelman
I grew up near New Paltz, NY in the country. My parents and I would go to the city and I loved it. I decided I wanted to go to college there. I always loved fashion and got accepted at the Fashion Institute of Technology and studied Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing. I graduated and got a job right away and worked in that field for 3 years.
I developed ulceritis colitis while I was in college and never imagined how it would impact my life. After a few hospital stays, my doctor put me on prednisone. I was on this medication off and on for over 1 year.
In April 2012, I got very sick and was admitted to NYU Langone. After many tests and a brain biopsy, it was confirmed I had contracted the bacteria Listeria. It had traveled thru my blood and went to the left side of my brain. At this point in the hospital, I could not walk, talk or communicate. I was able to stay and received physical, occupational and speech therapy at the Rusk Institute for 4 weeks.
In June 2012, I went home to live with my parents and I was slowly getting better with a lot of therapy.
I wanted a French bulldog puppy and saw her online. My Mom and I took a trip and got her. I named her Chloe and I took care of her and she took care of me.
I moved back to Manhattan in June 2012. I started my new life in a beautiful apartment on the Upper East Side with Chloe. I finally felt like an independent woman again.
It was a challenge to say the least, since I still could not read or write. I depended on my phone and I pad to find my way around the city and to communicate with friends. I enrolled in NYU for speech therapy and have gone there for over 10 years. They have helped me so much.
Since then, my dear Chloe has passed and I have a crazy Frenchie named Ophelia and I got married in 2022.
Since my accident, I have learned to take the situation as a learning and growing experience and share my journey with others who have the same condition, aphasia. I hope to inspire others and let them know that no matter how down you become there is always light at the end of the tunnel and you have something to offer the world.