Educational Resource Group Gives One Woman Her Life Back

On the night November 30, 2012, Susan Winingar stepped out of the shower and was immediately overcome with a “horrific headache,” unlike anything she has ever experienced. 

Her daughter, whom she was visiting at the time, rushed her to the hospital only to learn Winingar had suffered a brain aneurism, something doctors told her most people don’t survive.

Winingar survived the aneurism, but was left feeling lost.

“I wasn’t myself. I was not able to think clearly,” Winingar said. “My head was foggy. Anything I tired to do was such an effort. It was very difficult for me to remember things. I wanted to be myself again, and I was not myself.”

With some convincing from her daughter, Dr. Lori Perez the founder of The Educational Resource Group in Severna Park, on March 5 Winingar went to the center for help getting her life back.

More than three months later, Winingar is finally leaving her daughter’s home in Pasadena to go back to her own home in Florida—thanks to The Educational Resource Group, which Winnigar refers to as a miracle. 

The Educational Resource Group

The Educational Resource Group in Severna Park offers cognitive training for the brain.

“We work on the underlying skills that make learning so difficult,” said program manager Joel Allen. “We address attention, long-term memory and reasoning." 

After the aneurism, Winingar said she couldn’t focus on anything. She couldn’t pay her bills, and was even afraid to drive a car for fear she would get into an accident.

“I couldn’t do more than one thing at a time,” Winingar said. “It was all I could do to get out of bed in the morning.”

Despite thinking it wouldn’t be of any help, Winingar came to The Educational Resource Group and began working with trainer Alyssa Glasser.

Glasser and Winingar started working on cognitive procedures aimed at training and pushing the brain. From games like memorizing the presidents using a story, to other tests, Glasser worked to train Winingar’s brain to remember.

“The brain is going to adapt to the challenges it faces through the procedures,” Glasser said. “The procedures then increase in intensity, so that adaptation doesn’t plateau—you will keep getting stronger." 

With time, Winingar began getting stronger. When she first came to the center she said she was lost, after working with Glasser she began feeling more like herself. Suddenly she was reading books, following recipes and regaining her life.

“At first, I fought it tooth and nail. I didn’t think it would help me,” Winingar said. “But now I am back to my normal self. I can laugh and see the world clearly—it isn’t as foggy anymore.”

Added Winingar, “I have tools now that I can use to help me. And it’s amazing how often I can use what I learned and apply it.”

Glasser said the improvements in Winingar have been incredible.

“When she came in she was very timid and loaded with self-doubt,” Glasser said. “She is now walking with her head held high and always in a good mood.”

Getting Her Life Back

As Winingar sat in The Educational Resource Group on Wednesday morning her emotions were bittersweet. She was excited to be leaving on Thursday to finally head back to her home in Florida, but sad to be leaving her daughter, grandchildren and trainers.

“I am leaving with very mixed emotions—my daughter and my grandchildren and the people here have been wonderful,” Winingar said. “It’s really been remarkable to me. It is like a miracle.”

Those fateful days after the aneurism, Winingar was at a loss, and left with the fear that she would never get her normal life back. But now, as she prepares to leave for Florida her faith has been restored. 

“I couldn’t pray before—I am a very spiritual person, so that bothered me, but I couldn’t focus,” she said. “But now I can. I can focus and it’s wonderful. Life is good.”

The Educational Resource Group is located at 570 Benfield Rd. in Severna Park. For more information on the center visit its website or call 410-544-6696.