In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Abraham, a certified Speech-Language Pathologist whose life took an unexpected turn when she became the patient. After a sudden illness left her paralyzed and unable to speak, Vanessa faced the daunting task of reclaiming her voice and identity.
Vanessa shares her harrowing experience of battling Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), the emotional toll of being unable to communicate, and her path to recovery. Her story is not just one of survival but of transformation, leading her to become an advocate for ICU survivors and author of the memoir Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The sudden onset of her illness and ICU experience
- The psychological impact of PICS
- Her journey from patient back to practitioner
- Insights from her memoir, Speechless
- Her mission to educate others about the unseen challenges ICU survivors face
Vanessa’s resilience and dedication to helping others navigate similar challenges are truly inspiring. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a survivor, or someone interested in stories of human strength, this episode offers valuable insights.
🔗 Learn more about Vanessa’s work: Aneu Healing – https://aneuhealing.com/
📘 Check out her memoir: Speechless on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Speechless-Therapist-Ability-Struggle-Reclaim/dp/B0DS96R6XT
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Host Mike Bolland sits down with Alexia Michitti—a public speaker, athlete, and entrepreneur born without a right hand. Together, they reflect on their shared experiences of limb difference and Alexia’s powerful journey of resilience, determination, and innovation. Alexia shares how she’s breaking barriers in sports and beyond—from representing the U.S. in the first Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup, to filing a patent for adaptive clothing through her brand Em13race (https://em13race.com/), to finding her voice as a motivational speaker. She opens up about life without a prosthetic, her role models, and her passion for inspiring children with limb differences to embrace their uniqueness.
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland reviews EmpowerFest 2025, celebrating the limb loss and limb difference community with inspiring speakers, adaptive activities, and unforgettable moments. Mike also shares a story about a comedian who made a tasteless joke about the limb loss community — and how he got the comedian to remove the post. Tune in for insights, laughs, and a look at what makes the limb loss community so resilient and inspiring!
In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland sits down with Joslynn Bigelow, founder and CEO of Say How Consulting, for a powerful conversation on disability advocacy, system navigation, and the importance of dignity of risk. Joslynn shares her personal journey into advocacy, the launch of her consulting business, and her five guiding principles for creating inclusive services: dignity of risk, individual readiness, assess and address, authentic experience, and realistic opportunities. The discussion dives into: ✅ Why “say how” means finding solutions when systems say “no” ✅ The role of dignity of risk in fostering independence and inclusion ✅ The origins and growth of the United Adaptive Soccer Association (UASA) ✅ The challenges of advancing inclusion in adaptive sports ✅ The unique opportunities upcoming global sporting events offer for disability awareness
