A Journey Forward: A Story about Stroke Recovery, Perseverance, and the Benefit of Therapy

Watch a November 2, 2023, webinar on stroke recovery and aphasia from the perspective of therapist Nicole Link, stroke survivor Sahmad Nakumbe, and his wife Taylor. Sponsored by Encompass Health, hosted on ASHA Stream.

 

Recovery after a stroke can be a complex, intense and long process for stroke survivors and their families, particularly for young stroke survivors as this population faces unique obstacles. In addition, these challenges can be compounded with the diagnosis of aphasia, which in addition to affecting communication, can also have a major impact on quality of life. For many young stroke survivors, they have the potential to return to many of the higher-level things they enjoy. They just need a little guidance, the right mindset, support and resources and a team of people to help them along the way. Join Sahmad Nakumbe and his wife Taylor as they share their story about stroke rehabilitation, living with aphasia, the benefit of therapy, and the importance of positive mindset and an attitude of perseverance.

Panelists

Nicole Link, MA, CCC-SLP, Lead SLP at Mount Carmel Rehabilitation Hospital, an Affiliate of Encompass Health

Nicole Link, MA, CCC-SLP, Lead SLP at Mount Carmel Rehabilitation Hospital, an Affiliate of Encompass Health

Sahmad Nakumbe

Sahmad Nakumbe, stroke survivor and former patient at Mount Carmel Rehabilitation, an Affiliate of Encompass Health

Taylor Nakumbe

Taylor Nakumbe, wife of Sahmad. She is a support person, advocate, and resource.

Panelist Bios

Sahmad Nakumbe is the kind of person everyone hopes to have in their lives. He is the epitome of perseverance and over-coming every curveball life throws. In May 2018, Sahmad was a talented 26-year-old athlete who was competing in semi-pro football while also running his own company and completing his last semester of college when he had a massive stroke. This stroke affected Sahmad’s physical being as well as his ability to communicate. When he woke up in the hospital after his stroke, his entire right side was paralyzed, and the only word he could say was “Monday.” He had to re-learn EVERYTHING, including how to walk and talk. After months of multiple surgeries and intensive rehabilitation at Mount Carmel, Sahmad was discharged home to continue his recovery. Almost five years later, he has defied all odds; he is now independently working, driving and speaking publicly about his journey. To this day, he attends weekly speech therapy sessions to further improve his communication skills.

Nicole Link is the lead speech therapist at Mount Carmel Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliate of Encompass Health. She has spent the majority of her 13-plus year career working in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. She believes that teamwork, clinical excellence and compassion are the key ingredients in moving her profession forward and improving the lives of the patient's she serves.

Goals

After this webinar, participants will:

  • Understand the benefit of speech therapy services in the inpatient rehabilitation hospital setting.
  • Explain why mindset and attitude are crucial components to progress after stroke.
  • List simple, actionable strategies to use when working with patients with aphasia.
  • Develop a deeper understanding of aphasia from the perspective of a stroke survivor and their family.

This free event is open to all ASHA members and non-members. It is not offered for PDHs, CMHs, or ASHA CEUs.

Event Sponsor

Sponsored by Encompass Health

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Videos are displayed on behalf of ASHA's Exchange Live sponsors.

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