Carl Debo, 56, uttered very few words during his time in the three-month Brain Injury Resource Program that ended last week. The former engineering and robotics teacher at Sacred Hearts Academy suffered a stroke three years ago, impairing his ability to process language.

The condition, known as aphasia, had made Debo self-conscious about speaking, according to Mary Wilson, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Hawaii, which ran the pilot program at the YWCA Laniakea.

"I think I heard him speak about five words in the past three months," she said.

But when Consolacion "Ching" Mongco, a 22-year old who suffered a brain injury in a 2009 car crash, expressed a desire to learn how to swim during one of the program’s group sessions, Debo surprised everyone by speaking up and offering to help.

"He pointed to himself and said, ‘Me, Me. I can help,’" recalled Wilson.

Wednesday, Debo and Mongco ventured into the water together at the YWCA pool, moving to tears those who had worked with them since August.

"I had to give up teaching, and that’s what I love to do," said Debo, who had taught swimming earlier in his life and has a pool at his Kaneohe home but had not been in the water since his stroke. He is sensitive to the cold and is uncomfortable in the water.

But in the pool with Mongco, Debo spoke clearly and skillfully provided direction to the young woman. Anyone observing the pair would have never known the two were dealing with brain injury issues.

"It really was a miracle. We never, never expected Carl to start talking," Wilson said.

The Brain Injury Resource Program was launched in August to provide physical, social recreation and cognitive therapy to those with brain injuries. The $7,000 that paid for the twice-weekly day program was part of a $165,000 state Department of Health contract awarded to the Brain Injury Association. The money came out of the department’s Neurotrauma Fund, which is supported by fines issued for driving violations.

About 2,000 brain injuries occur annually in Hawaii due to stroke, cardiac arrest, trauma from falls or vehicle crashes, and other causes.

Patients may receive outpatient therapy in the immediate aftermath of a brain injury, but Wilson said that once health insurance benefits end, there are no structured day programs available to help them gain the ability to make the transition back into active lives in the community.

The program paid for YWCA memberships that allowed the five initial participants to join tai chi, swimming and other activities, and to enjoy lunch from the Y’s Cafe Julia. It also purchased iPads loaded with software for cognitive therapy. "It isn’t just sitting around and playing chess all day," Wilson said.

The main purpose of the three-month pilot program was to develop admission criteria, training needs and other policies to lay the groundwork for future programs, but during that short period, the participants made tangible gains, she said.

"Those are things that I needed to develop, but we really accomplished stuff. One guy just had his second job interview at Goodwill.

"The program exceeded all of our expectations," said Wilson, who is working to obtain grants and donations to keep it going and expand it from two to four days a week. Already, there are 20 applicants who were turned away from the pilot program.

Debo hasn’t regained all of his capabilities, but he is able to drive, play the tuba and engage in everyday tasks. He still struggles with aphasia, which has affected his ability to read, something he worked on using the program’s iPads.

Mongco was in a coma for a month after her then-boyfriend flipped the car they were riding in while drag-racing in June 2009. She suffered multiple injuries, burns and partial amnesia.

"I woke up just after my birthday. It was the best gift," she said.

Her memory is slowly returning, but she still can’t recall the crash that altered her life. At the time, she was studying to become a medical assistant, but so far has not been able to go back to school.

"I was bedridden for four months. I was so puzzled by what happened," she said. "I want to keep stimulating my mind."

Her father, Catalino Mongco, said the Brain Injury Resource Program was a big help to his daughter.

"The tai chi classes help her reflexes. The computer classes give her skills for memory and movement. It helps her brain work," he said last week, before the sessions ended.

Before Mongco joined the group, Debo had refused to get in the pool, according to Clara Baptiste, a program volunteer.

"Ching was the newest person in the group. He saw a need and filled it," she said.

"This place provides hope for a life beyond the life that they are living. It teaches them that nothing is impossible. … It doesn’t allow them to put limitations on themselves."

Wilson added, "When Ching got into the pool with Carl, it was like his brain snapped and he went to a different place. His previous experience of teaching surfaced. I didn’t think the participants would be teaching each other. I thought that was my job."

"It’s a beautiful thing to watch," said Baptiste. "These people are becoming a new person by force or striving to be the person they were meant to be."

Mongco said she is determined to keep improving.

"I’m learning to swim before I can walk properly again. Maybe I’ll join a swim team or go to the Olympics," she chuckled.