Mary Benson had a stroke (Sept. 2007)

Subject: RE: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 01:40 PM

All good wishes for a full recovery. We'll send good thoughts her way at the October 6 chantey sing in SF.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 01:39 PM

Wishing you the best recovery ever marveled at, Mary. I'm glad that you are a musician- not only are musicians tough but their comfort comes in such a pleasing form.

Subject: RE: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 01:36 PM

I don't know Mary but I am sad to hear she is experiencing such misfortunes.   if anyone knows of anything specific that she needs or could use, please PM me. I would guess that she could use giftcards to various grocery stores, drugstores and general merchants. Those might help her and her caregivers deal with daily expenses.

Sometimes we in the USA can get these rather easily and for free just by filling a new prescription or transferring an old one to a new store such as Ralph's/Kroger, Riteaid, CVS, Longs Drugs, Target and Walgreens. I have a few $25 and $30 giftcards I could easily spare. If a friend of Mary's could PM me, I'd happily send her some along with some homemade CDs to maybe pick up her spirits.

Subject: RE: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: open mike
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 01:31 PM

I wish her a full recovery. Which side is effected (affected?) the
part of the brain where music resides is not the part where language
is -- and the brain can re-build the pathways with time. I am glad
her son has a place where he can be cared for. The best of healing to you, Mary.

(this must explain the former message with few details posted about Oregon female singer?)

Subject: RE: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: Mick Tems
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 01:12 PM

Like Mary, I too had a disabling stroke. I was a Calennig musician and singer, a collector in Wales, a Llantrisant Folk Club compere and organiser and a journalist to boot. This one was a doozy - the stroke parylised half of my body, I almost died, I spent nine months in hospital, I was without speech, I was wheelchair-bound. Mary, the only good thing about a stroke is that it DOES get better. I was in a sorry state; I could barely stand on a stage, let alone sing and play. But look at me now. I achieved my ambition of playing in a band once more, I have been invited to festivals as a singing performer and I write articles and review CDs for Taplas, the all-Wales magazine. I even found a loving partner to care for me.

You are not alone - there are thousands of stroke survivors just willing you on to to improve and grow stronger. Keep at it, Mary - don't let the the bastards grind you down.

Subject: RE: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: Metchosin
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 12:44 PM

So sad to hear. If you get current contact info could you please PM me wirh it, so I can pass it on to my brother Russ, who used to know Mary fairly well.

Subject: RE: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 03:27 AM

How very sad. I don't know Mary but I wish her all the best.
It makes my problems look very minor.
Keep up your strength girl, you can make it.
Luv,
Robyn

Subject: Mary Benson had a stroke
From: David Ingerson
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 02:54 AM

Many of you on the Pacific coast of the US between San Francisco and Vancouver might have heard (or heard of) Mary Benson, a singer with a clarion voice and a huge repertoire of sea songs and British Isles folk songs. Two weeks ago she was hit with a relatively minor but nonetheless disabling stroke. She walks with extreme difficulty and has a hard time putting together a sentence of more than five or six words. Much of what she says sounds like nonsense, but she is obviously trying to communicate her thoughts. She has been through intensive therapy for ten or so days but will be discharged from Providence (Portland) Medical Center tomorrow. (I'm not sure where she will be but will keep you informed.)

She has had an unbelievable string of misfortune recently: Her father died several months ago; she lost her job; her home is being foreclosed by the bank. (Her 22-year-old son, Max, with CP, has been accepted into a group home.) And now a stroke.

Whether she will ever sing again depends on her recovery. Right now she is unable to sing independently but can hum a bar or two (with very uneven intonation) along with a singer or recording.

But her spirits are good; she's still that irrepressible Mary!

David