Deborah Fahey

Deborah Fahey from Leeds had a stroke in 2016, leaving her with damage to the left side of her brain. Initially, Deborah struggled to walk, was unable to move her right hand, and had difficulties with language and speech.

She says: “After my stroke, I developed aphasia and, although my brain was working and I knew what I wanted to say, I just couldn’t get the words out. I had to start again completely, with reading and talking.”

After almost seven months recovering in hospital, Deborah’s speech was beginning to improve. A year post-stroke, she was referred by the NHS to Aphasia Support who assessed her abilities and matched her with a volunteer who understood her frustrations and worked with her on her communication goals.

She adds: “With their support, and the apps and programmes that they helped me to navigate, I was able to work on my speech and improve my conversation skills. It took around three-years to get to the level I am at now, but through the support Aphasia Support continue to provide, and my own motivation, I am continuously improving. It is a long road to recovery, but it is possible with the right support.”