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USING MY VOICE
Looking back in order to look forward after a stroke
In May 2019, I was recovering from rotator cuff surgery when I had an unexpected stroke. As I continue to recover and learn to live with the challenges of aphasia and apraxia, I will share my story which usually requires me to look back at what happened so I can move forward. It is my hope that by sharing my experiences I can help other stroke survivors and their care partners and help them not only survive but THRIVE.
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Handling Loneliness: coming home to your inner self
Day 25 After my stroke, loneliness showed up in ways I didn’t expect. It wasn’t just about being alone—it was about having so much to say but not being able to say it. My thoughts were still there—clear and alive—but trapped inside. I felt like I was living mostly in my head, full of words and feelings that couldn’t find their way out. Even when I was with people, I couldn’t participate the way I wanted. That kind of quiet can make you turn inward. You start to notice everyt
Cheryl
3 hours ago2 min read
Managing Frustration and Anger (Still a Work in Progress)
Day 24 This is a tough post to write. It’s not easy to tell the world you have anger. But I think it’s an important tooic to explore. After the stroke, anger and frustration became familiar companions. I was angry at myself for not getting better faster. Frustrated that everything I worked so hard for—especially the job I loved and finally paid well—was suddenly gone. I worried that my stroke had ruined our plans for retirement. It stung when family didn’t understand, or whe
Cheryl
1 day ago3 min read
Mindfulness and Breathing Practices: Finding Calm in the Present Moment
Day 23 When I first heard the word mindfulness , all I thought about was sitting cross-legged in silence, meditating for long periods of time. Many of my friends with aphasia, apraxia, and dysarthria have found meditation helpful—and I admire that.They use apps, groups, or simple breathing to find calm and focus. But for me, meditation in that traditional way has always been hard. My brain moves differently now, and my attention feels pulled in new directions. What I’ve learn
Cheryl
2 days ago3 min read
Understanding Neurofatigue: listening to your brain
Day 22 When I first started recovering from my stroke, I thought being tired all the time was just part of healing. But what I was really experiencing was something more specific— neurofatigue . After brain injury, the brain works harder to do things that once came easily—talking, reading, remembering, or even focusing on conversation. Every simple act takes more energy. This isn’t “laziness” or “low motivation”—it’s a sign that your brain is working hard to rebuild new path
Cheryl
3 days ago3 min read
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Day 21 – Living Well with Challenges (ACT) This next week, I’m going to focus on Emotional and Mental Health. One of the hardest parts of life after stroke and living with communication challenges is learning to live with what has changed—without giving up on what’s possible. For me, that’s where Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) came in. ACT is a mindfulness-based approach that helps people accept what they can’t change, commit to what matters most, and take small, me
Cheryl
4 days ago3 min read
Creative Outlets: Expressing Yourself Beyond Words
Day 20 When speech is difficult, creativity can become a powerful form of expression. For people with aphasia, music, art, poetry, journaling, photography, or even simple crafts can serve as bridges for connection, reflection, and healing. Creative outlets allow us to share our thoughts and feelings without relying solely on words—and sometimes, they even help improve language and communication along the way. I’ve been exploring my own creative side since my stroke. Blogging
Cheryl
5 days ago3 min read
Songs that Carried Me Through
Day 19 Today is a continuation of yesterday’s theme of music as therapy. Music has always been part of my life—choir in college, piano lessons from age 10 to 16, and countless playlists for joy and reflection. After my stroke, music became both more difficult and more important. Singing was challenging with aphasia and apraxia, but music still helped me access words and memories, and it gave me motivation on tough days. Here I match songs to themes in my journey—songs that r
Cheryl
6 days ago2 min read
Music as medicine
Day 18 Music has always been part of my life. In college, I even sang in the choir. Long before that, my parents bought me a piano, and I took lessons from about age 10 until I was 16. Creativity and music gave me joy, expression, and connection in ways that reached beyond words. After my stroke, though, things changed. With both aphasia and apraxia of speech , music became bittersweet. Aphasia made it hard to find the words, and )apraxia—the motor planning challenge—made it
Cheryl
Oct 183 min read
Project Based Speech Therapy: Learning Through Real-life Projects
Day 17 When I think about what has helped me most in my recovery from stroke with aphasia, apraxia, and dysarthria, project-based speech therapy stands out. It made sense to me right away—probably because I had used project-based learning for years when I was an adult literacy teacher. I never liked worksheets. I wanted my students to do things that mattered: write real letters, create presentations, or solve practical problems. It wasn’t just more fun—it helped learning sti
Cheryl
Oct 173 min read
Adaptive Tools: Low-Tech Aids
Day 16 When I first started my recovery, technology wasn’t always the answer. Some days I needed something simple, tangible, and easy to reach. That’s when I discovered the power of low-tech aids — tools that don’t require batteries or Wi-Fi but can make a huge difference in communication. For me, large papers became a lifesaver. I could write down words, phrases, or reminders and see them at a glance. Having everything in big, clear letters reduced frustration and made it e
Cheryl
Oct 162 min read
Speech, Language & Communication Tools
Day 15 Technology isn’t a replacement for speech therapy, but it can be a powerful partner—especially in the moments between therapy sessions. For me, apps and games became both practice tools and confidence builders. They gave me ways to keep working on my speech while also making practice fun. Early in Recovery: The Basics In the beginning, I needed structured support to get even the smallest sounds and words out. The apps I used then were designed specifically for people
Cheryl
Oct 152 min read
Using Daily Life as Speech Therapy
Day 14 Speech therapy is one of the most important things to help you reach your communication goals when you a language or speech disorder. Practicing between sessions is also important and can be fun, creative, and tailored to your daily life. it doesn’t have to feel like homework ! Any everyday chore or activity can double as speech practice. Here are some practical ways to sneak therapy into your routine: Lists and organization: Write your supermarket or shopping list
Cheryl
Oct 142 min read
Managing Frustration in Conversations
Day 13 With speech and language disorders, communication doesn’t come as easily as it once did. Words can get stuck, thoughts can feel jumbled, and sentences may take longer than you—or anyone else—expects. This shift can create frustration, not just for the person with aphasia, but for family, friends, and others trying to understand and help. Managing frustration in conversations has been one of the hardest lessons of my recovery. It’s easy to feel isolated or misunderstood
Cheryl
Oct 132 min read
Advocating for Others
Day 12 When I first began my recovery, all I thought about was survival —finding my voice, being understood, and getting through the day....
Cheryl
Oct 123 min read
Getting Back into the Community
Day 11 Re-engaging with the world after a stroke can feel both exciting and terrifying. For many of us living with aphasia, apraxia, and...
Cheryl
Oct 113 min read
Connecting with Others Who Understand
Day 10 After my stroke, one of the most challenging aspects wasn't just learning to communicate again—it was finding people who truly...
Cheryl
Oct 103 min read
How to Teach Others to Communicate with You
Day 9. When you live with aphasia, apraxia, or dysarthria, communication can take more effort—not just for you, but for the people around...
Cheryl
Oct 93 min read
Building Your Support Team
Day 8. One of my dreams since having a stroke has been that every survivor leaves the hospital or rehab facility with a team already in...
Cheryl
Oct 84 min read
Self-care Basics for Brain Health
Day 7 So what is “self care” and why is important? I really like this article on self care . www.theodysseyonline.com/5-reasons-why-self-...
Cheryl
Oct 73 min read
The Importance of a Daily Schedule
day 6 After stroke, days can feel long and unstructured. Without a routine, it’s easy to slip into frustration, fatigue, or even...
Cheryl
Oct 62 min read
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