Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Child Development and Behavior/How Speech-Language Pathology Helped My Daughter Recover From A Stroke

How Speech-Language Pathology Helped My Daughter Recover From A Stroke

How Speech-Language Pathology Helped My Daughter Recover From A Stroke
May 21, 2019
6 Comments
By: Diana Moore

Please allow me to introduce you to my only child and precious daughter, Lila.  She is a vivacious, 18-year-old whose life took an unexpected turn last fall when she suffered a stroke.

Lila Lives Life To the Fullest

Lila has always been a bright, fun-loving, cheerful girl with a big smile and infectious laugh who lives life to the fullest.  She enjoys playing volleyball, tennis and snowboarding in winter. Anything outdoorsy or adventurous is her jam! Lila loves fishing, hiking, climbing, roller coaster riding and traveling when and wherever possible. 

Some of her most memorable trips include kayaking the caves in La Jolla, California and reaching the peak of Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona. She dives into the culture of our great city of Cincinnati, often exploring with her boyfriend.  They enjoy going to the museums, parks, music festivals and on any given weekend can be spotted visiting a new eatery on a quest to find the tastiest burger!  Her dad and I agree that Lila’s number one priority in life is to have fun and make memories.

Lila Suddenly Has a Difficult Time Speaking

Last fall, Lila was attending Gateway Community & Technical College as a first semester student pursuing studies in pre-nursing. I received a call from her that she wasn’t feeling well.  She had been struggling with a cold, but additionally was having trouble understanding and expressing speech. It was sudden onset.  Her professors weren’t “making sense” to her, and she couldn’t remember simple words at times.   I have some medical background as registered nurse and felt like her symptoms were consistent with having aphasia, which is a loss of ability to understand or express speech.  She was young and otherwise healthy, but my knee-jerk reaction was to worry she was having a stroke. 

I put her through a series of physical tests to check for facial feature symmetry and equal strength bilaterally, and she passed all of those with flying colors. The words she did use were clear and articulate, but her inability to finds the right words when she tried to speak was very alarming to me. She would have to pause to think of simple words and would occasionally substitute the wrong word to try and express herself.  I was not used to this from my college student! 

MRI Shows Lila Had an Ischemic Stroke

After consulting with emergency medical professionals and a group of neurologists, they weren’t yet convinced she was suffering a stroke.  When she hadn’t improved within a few days, I persisted and received the “ok” for Lila to have an MRI of her brain.  Following her MRI, we were immediately consulted in person by her neurologists who delivered the devastating news that Lila had indeed suffered an ischemic stroke caused by a blood clot.   It was immediate shock and tears for us all, followed by bear-gripping hugs and gratitude that her life was spared. 

She was directly admitted overnight for observation, put on aspirin therapy, and consulted with many specialists.  After a series of assessments, it was determined that Lila would need to proceed with speech therapy on an outpatient basis.  Her college studies would be suspended for now, and her focus was rehabilitation.  It was a lot to digest. Thankfully, Lila’s positive outlook, strong spirit, and the thoughtful prayers of others bolstered her determination to persevere.  Now we just needed to find the best treatment.  That we did, in abundance, when we were introduced to the most amazing speech-language pathologist named Stephanie Volker at Cincinnati Children’s!

Lila Begins Speech-Language Pathology

Lila began meeting with Stephanie twice a week for intensive speech-language pathology.  I’ll never forget our first consultation with her.  Stephanie’s experience, competence and compassionate approach was evident immediately.  It was an emotional encounter when Stephanie explained to Lila that she hadn’t lost her intelligence.  Her knowledge was still there, it just needed to be reorganized.  I watched Lila’s countenance go from defeated to encouraged!

The exercises Stephanie gave Lila were perfectly tailored to be challenging but attainable.   She would do reading, writing, recall and game exercises with Lila in session, and give homework.  She kept it interesting and fun, always!  Some of Lila’s favorites were speech therapy computer games, word board games, riddle worksheets and website links Stephanie referenced that simulated mini-college lectures with competency tests. 

Stephanie not only cared for Lila’s immediate speech needs, but also helped with future planning.  She understands Lila’s desires to return to college in the future and made suggestions of tools to help get back on track.  She showed us recording devices to make note taking easier and suggested computer extensions where you can record and control the speed of lectures.  

Lila Has Nearly Returned to Her Pre-Stroke State

Stephanie has had the greatest impact on Lila’s recovery.  Thanks to her, and her experience in speech-language pathology, Lila is flourishing and has nearly returned to her pre-stroke state.  She’s enjoying her life again, speaking clearly, and excited for what her future holds.  We will forever be grateful for Stephanie Volker, speech-language pathology and the staff at Cincinnati Children’s!

To learn more about speech-language pathology at Cincinnati Children’s, please call 513-636-4341 or email speech.pathology@cchmc.org

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

Tips to Encourage Screen-Free Learning During COVID-19 
Tips to Encourage Screen-Free Learning During COVID-19 
7 Things I Wish I Had Known About Pediatric Strokes
7 Things I Wish I Had Known About Pediatric Strokes
Growing up with Apraxia of Speech: 6 Things That Helped Me
Growing up with Apraxia of Speech: 6 Things That Helped Me
Stroke in Children May Present with More Subtle or Nonspecific Symptoms
Stroke in Children May Present with More Subtle or Nonspecific Symptoms
TAGS:
  • Division of Speech-Language Pathology
  • pediatric stroke
Avatar photo

About the author: Diana Moore

Diana Moore resides in Northern Kentucky. She is married to her wonderful husband, Keith and is the proud mother of Lila. She is a registered nurse and current full-time homemaker.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

Proud Grandmother May 21, 2019 at 3:19 pm

Lila is truly an amazing young lady and my granddaughter! Thank you Children’s for all you did to help her. And, congrats to my phenomenal daughter for this wonderful article!

    Susers May 22, 2019 at 6:32 am

    That is such good news! How long has it taken from such a stroke to return to her almost prior normal?

      Diana May 22, 2019 at 8:43 pm

      Thank you so much for the kind reply! Lila made a rapid recovery with the help of her awesome Speech Language Pathologist, Stephanie. After about (6) months of therapy, she has “graduated” from the program!

    Diana May 22, 2019 at 8:45 pm

    Lila is blessed to have a “Mimi” like you! Thanks for your love, support and prayers!!

Susers May 22, 2019 at 6:31 am

That is such good news! How long has it taken from such a stroke to return to her almost prior normal?

    Louis Ezrick July 22, 2019 at 1:09 pm

    Yes I also wanted to ask this question? How long has it taken?
    I have also read that pediatric physical therapy can help a lot?!
    https://evolveny.com/

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 2k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.6k views
  • Febrile Seizures: Why They Happen and What to Do 812 views
  • Bedwetting Solutions: Tips for Helping Your Child Overcome It 785 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 755 views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 744 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center