Success Stories

Aphasia Fund Breaks the $100K Donations Mark and Growing!

March 11, 2022 General, News, Success Story, UCLL

When Tyler Thomas set out to complete a full Ironman competition in fall 2021, he knew dedicating the race to close family friend Tim Wadhams felt right. Tyler decided to tackle the feat of endurance in honor of Tim —…

Racing Toward Aphasia Awareness: Tyler Thomas Takes on Ironman Triathlon

September 20, 2021 News, Success Story, UCLL, UMAP

UPDATE: Tyler completed the Chattanooga Ironman in just over 12 hours, on Sept. 26. He finished #37 in his age group, an impressive showing! Tim and Laurie were at the finish line to help him celebrate this major accomplishment. Tim…

Shedding Light on Aphasia: Carol’s Story

August 18, 2021 General, News, Success Story, UCLL, UMAP

Meet Carol Viventi Born and raised in Detroit, Carol Viventi currently lives in East Lansing, Michigan with her family. Carol had a stroke three years ago, and has both apraxia and aphasia. We asked Carol, a U-M Aphasia Program client,…

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…