Success Stories

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…

Putting Aside the Rivalry for Recovery: A Loyal Buckeye Fan Seeks Treatment at U-M

August 7, 2018 News, Success Story

Name: Cris Assif Hometown: Champions Gate, FL Cris Assif is a self-proclaimed “Buckeye for life,” but after a stroke paralyzed the entire right side of his body and left him unable to even swallow, he knew he needed the best…

Theron & Amy: Tackling Aphasia, Together

July 26, 2018 News, Success Story

Client: Theron Coleman  Hometown: Suttons Bay, MI  Theron and Amy Coleman make a great team — whether they are working on their family-owned cherry farm or parenting their three kids. Together, they have weathered Theron’s stroke and subsequent aphasia and…

In Their Words: Aphasia Experiences – Al Part 2

July 2, 2018 News, Success Story

In the spirit of Let’s #TalkAboutAphasia, the National Aphasia Association‘s nationwide aphasia awareness campaign, we wanted to do just that — talk about aphasia — but we also wanted to ensure the voices of people with aphasia were part of…

In Their Words: Aphasia Experiences – Chris

June 28, 2018 News, Success Story

In the spirit of Let’s #TalkAboutAphasia, the National Aphasia Association‘s nationwide aphasia awareness campaign, we wanted to do just that — talk about aphasia — but we also wanted to ensure the voices of people with aphasia were part of…

In Their Words: Aphasia Experiences – Theron

June 21, 2018 News, Success Story

In the spirit of Let’s #TalkAboutAphasia, the National Aphasia Association‘s nationwide aphasia awareness campaign, we wanted to do just that — talk about aphasia — but we also wanted to ensure the voices of people with aphasia were part of…

In Their Words: Aphasia Experiences – Cris

June 14, 2018 News, Success Story

In the spirit of Let’s #TalkAboutAphasia, the National Aphasia Association‘s nationwide aphasia awareness campaign, we wanted to do just that — talk about aphasia — but we also wanted to ensure the voices of people with aphasia were part of…

In Their Words: Aphasia Experiences – Al

June 6, 2018 News, Success Story

In the spirit of Let’s #TalkAboutAphasia, the National Aphasia Association‘s nationwide aphasia awareness campaign, we wanted to do just that — talk about aphasia — but we also wanted to ensure the voices of people with aphasia were part of…

The Ripple Effect: The Benefits of the U-M Aphasia Program Three Decades Later

April 23, 2018 News, Success Story

  Client: Kevin Tholin Hometown: Kewanee, Illinois  It has been decades since Kevin Tholin attended the University of Michigan Aphasia Program — but he credits his time spent at U-M with making those years more valuable to him. “I’ve been…

Suddenly, I Felt There Was Hope: Jo Anne Nestico’s Story

February 1, 2018 Success Story

Jo Anne Nestico of Harrison Township, Michigan, first experienced language problems when she was eating dinner with her husband. She said she felt fine, but she couldn’t speak in sentences and words that were different than the ones she was…

Remembering Jazz Great Louis Smith

October 4, 2016 News, Success Story

Louis Smith was a part of our community and he will be greatly missed. Louis and his wife Lulu not only brought awareness to aphasia, but they also brought a spark to our world. Louis was tenacious. With the help…

A Caregiver’s Perspective: ‘I didn’t know if he would ever speak to me again’

February 15, 2016 Caregiver, Success Story

Debbie Furman’s husband Mark had a stroke and subsequent aphasia. The Furmans, from Poland, Ohio came to UMAP in 2016. Debbie, his caregiver, submitted the following essay during the final days of their session at UMAP here in Ann Arbor,…

Young Mother, Wife and Teacher Finds Confidence at UMAP After Stroke

December 7, 2015 Success Story

Who: Jessica Rostron, age 31 Family: Husband Shaun Rostron and children Lukas and Lydia Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Jessica Rostron thought her migraine was just like those she had become accustomed to over the years — painful, but nothing to worry…