Rose, of University City, was in mid-sentence during a class discussion at Eden Theological Seminary 11 years ago when the words just stopped coming. Her classmates recognized that she was having a stroke and called an ambulance.

Rose, now 66, battled to regain her physical strength and mobility after weeks in the hospital. But she continued to have trouble speaking – specifically, difficulty pronouncing some words, and an inability to recall some words. This condition is known as "aphasia." Some people with aphasia have trouble understanding speech, and difficulty with reading and writing.

Rose found help at the Aphasia Conversation Connection, After Stroke: Back to Living Program funded by a grant from the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation to Barnes-Jewish Extended Care in Clayton, Mo. It is one of only a handful of such program in North America.

"Stroke survivors often return home to find that life has changed dramatically," Dr. Fran Tucker, speech pathologist and administrator of the program said. "In many cases, people may have to learn new ways to cope and communicate. The Aphasia Conversation Connection helps people learn to deal with changes in their ability to communicate."

Tucker compares aphasia to being in a foreign country and not knowing the language.

Rose says the condition is frustrating. People often mistake a person with aphasia''s difficulty with language as a lack of intelligence. But Rose says her thought processes are as clear as ever, though she often finds herself grasping for the right word. "People don''t understand," she says.

The Aphasia Conversation Connection has helped Rose become more comfortable with speaking in a small group and learning different ways to enhance her ability to communicate and reinforce her independence.

At the beginning of 2005, Rose also enrolled in the Post-Stroke Well-Fit program, the other component of the After Stroke: Back to Living program. Twice a week, she goes to the BJC WellAware Center, a wellness center and gym near Barnes-Jewish Hospital, for two-hour sessions. One hour of each session is spent doing aerobic exercise and weight work under the supervision of exercise physiologist Jayme Calllahan. The second hour is spent in a complementary, alternative medicine activity such as yoga. The program''s goal is to maintain progress made in rehabilitation and increase stroke survivors'' level of fitness and enhance the quality of their lives.

"You have to be able to do things for yourself," she says forcefully.

"Can''t" is one word that has never been in Rose''s vocabulary. As a young woman in Memphis, she first earned a teaching degree. Then, she became the first black woman to attend the University of Memphis, where she earned a degree in cytology. After managing cytology labs at the former Barnes Hospital, St. Luke''s Hospital and St. Louis Regional Medical Center, Rose earned a master''s degree in psychology and decided to switch careers to become a minister.

"I had lots of things I had to do," she says.

Rose saw a speech therapist for a time after her stroke. But she wanted more than traditional speech therapy offered.

"They were teaching me to say ''dog'', but I wanted to say ''elephant,''" she says.

When she heard about the Aphasia Conversation Connection, she thought the group might be the answer. The group helps Rose and other stroke survivors to converse with others who are dealing with aphasia, with the facilitators enhancing and supporting communications among the group participants.

Tucker says the goals of the Aphasia Conversation Connection include enhancing social interaction skills, increasing stroke survivors'' participation in social communication, gaining confidence for facing the challenges of aphasia and improving overall quality of life.

The aphasia group is just one of Rose''s many activities. Now an ordained minister on the pastoral staff at St. James A.M.E. Church, Rose reads Scripture during services, volunteers with congregation in Wellston and even gives sermons.

"I don''t like to because of my speech," Rose says of sermonizing. "But, hey, if I have to, I do it."

She also participates in the After Stroke Fitness program at the BJC WellAware Center and meets with a nutritionist. Staying physicially, spiritually and socially healthy help her deal with lingering effects of the stroke.

"I can do things," she says. "I just want to do more things better."