230: Vanessa lost her voice
Author: Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media.
September 19, 2025
Duration: 1:10:58
How scary would it be, if you suddenly lost your ability to
speak?
There was a story in the news about a man named Peter. When
Peter was 73 years old, he had a stroke. He survived the stroke, but he found
that he could no longer speak. And it looked like that condition was permanent,
because after 4 years, he still had no voice.
But then, Peter was on vacation with his wife Carol, and
their son Jonathan. And one day Peter just woke up, and he was able to speak
again. He just started speaking, and Carol said, “Peter, you’re speaking!” Then
she said, “Don’t stop, keep talking! It might go away again!”
Jonathan was in the next room and heard two people having a
conversation and came rushing in wondering what was happening. They all started
crying and laughing at the same time. It was a very emotional time because it
had been so long.
Later that day, Peter found out that he had had ANOTHER
stroke. They wondered if whatever damage the first stroke had done, was now
UNdone by the second stroke. Doctors were doubtful of that, but even they
didn’t have an explanation. Peter is just happy to have his voice back.
My guest today is Vanessa. She experienced something similar
– some kind of sudden, mysterious condition that showed up with multiple
symptoms, including taking away her voice.
What makes Vanessa’s story even more fascinating is her
career – she’s a speech therapist.
If you’d like to contact Vanessa:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechless_slp/?hl=en
Her book:
Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to
Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life –
https://www.amazon.com/Speechless-Therapist-Ability-Struggle-Reclaim/dp/B0DS96R6XT
Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/230
Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was
done by James Lai.
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