Success Stories

Taking a Teamwork Approach to Recovery: Tom and Janice’s Story

January 13, 2020 Success Story, UMAP

  Name: Tom and Janice Herlihy Hometown: Burlingame, California  Tom and Janice are the kind of couple that when you mention one, you usually mention the other. Traveling, raising their kids, moving cross country, enjoying life — Tom and Janice,…

Searching For Teletherapy, Finding UMAP

December 13, 2019 Success Story, UCLL, UMAP

Stacy and Rhetta Johnstone  Hometown: Ventura, California Stacy and Rhetta Johnstone have been together for 40 years. “We kinda grew up together,” said Rhetta. “It’s always been fun being with Stacy.”  After Stacy’s stroke in 2016 and subsequent aphasia and…

U-M Aphasia Program Featured to Show U-M Value Outside the Classroom

September 5, 2019 News, Success Story

The University of Michigan Aphasia Program (UMAP) makes a difference in peoples’ lives. As part of a new campaign to demonstrate the value of the University beyond the classroom, U-M recently featured the U-M Aphasia Program as one such example.…

Aphasia Ambassador and Advocate: Amy Walters

August 14, 2019 News, Success Story

In continuation of our Aphasia Ambassador series, we are excited to shine a spotlight on California resident and U-M Aphasia Program (UMAP) client Amy Walters. Amy and her husband Dave have attended three intensive UMAP sessions and are active ambassadors…

Ted Baxter Shares his Story to Help Bring Aphasia Awareness

June 12, 2019 News, Success Story, UMAP

Ted W. Baxter, author of memoir Relentless, aphasia advocate, and former University of Michigan Aphasia Program (UMAP)  client, returned to Ann Arbor to give voice to the millions of people in the U.S. with aphasia who may not be able…

Josh and Lauren’s Story: Finding a Support System – At Home and at UMAP

January 25, 2019 Caregiver, News, Success Story

Josh and Lauren Mathews Hometown: Nashville, TN Six years ago Josh Mathews suffered a brain injury when he was attacked outside a bar. In an instant, everything changed for Josh and his wife, Lauren. He was left unable to speak,…

Joe’s Story: Using Art to Describe Aphasia

December 11, 2018 Caregiver, General, News, UMAP

Joe Iovino, U-M class of 2018, recently visited UMAP to share a project he made about aphasia. His mother had a stroke when he was very young and she was working toward aphasia recovery while he was growing up. Joe’s…

UMAP Featured as a U-M Story of Our State

November 20, 2018 News, Success Story

The University of Michigan Aphasia Program (UMAP) makes a difference in peoples’ lives. Because of this, the University of Michigan Stories of Our State series chose to feature UMAP, showcasing the impact our program can have on not just the…

Finding a Second Family at UMAP: Anna’s Caregiver Story

November 6, 2018 Caregiver, News, Success Story, UMAP

In January 2018, like many across the nation, my husband Ryan and I were recovering from the flu. Overall, though, life was good. I had started a new job, and we were just trucking along like a normal couple in…

You are Not Your Aphasia: Gene and Lisa’s Story

October 11, 2018 Caregiver, News, Success Story

As a self-described “fun-loving couple,” Gene and Lisa Simon love to camp and golf, have fun and enjoy their time together. When Gene had two strokes in one year and subsequent aphasia, of course their lives changed. But they haven’t…