Two strokes took her words – with speech therapy, Riikka is building a new everyday life

Two Strokes Took Her Words – With Speech Therapy, Riikka Is Building a New Everyday Life

The former workaholic now prefers filling a coloring book instead of her calendar. Thanks to speech therapy, support from loved ones, and learning to relax, Riikka has found a new way to live her everyday life.

Riikka, who lives in Kauhajoki, was 44 when her life changed radically. The first stroke happened at home in 2023, and the second one a year later – the latter being significantly more serious. The symptoms were clear: speaking suddenly felt difficult, and it became hard to sense the boundaries of her own body.
“I noticed I kept banging my leg on the cabinet door and wondered how I couldn’t figure out where my body ends,” Riikka recalls of her first episode.

When her husband called an ambulance, it became clear that, despite the paramedic’s request, Riikka couldn’t smile: one corner of her mouth just drooped.

In the end, doctors couldn’t find a physical cause for the strokes, but one factor stood out: years of severe, ongoing stress. When, a year later, the second stroke hit – taking away her ability to speak and write – and soon after that a TIA (a transient ischemic attack) struck in the middle of a concert, she once again had to pause and rethink how to rebuild her life.

Speech therapy built her vocabulary, and relaxation became an important routine

Riikka’s recovery began in the rehabilitation ward of the central hospital, where she spent several weeks – after the second stroke, the treatment period lasted as long as two months. After that, she sought speech therapy provided by ombrelo in Seinäjoki, having received good recommendations about it.
“It was also important to me to be able to attend in-person sessions instead of online therapy,” Riikka adds.

Speech therapy twice a week gave Riikka concrete exercises and tools that helped her improve attention, perception, and memory. In the beginning, her speech was fragmented and error-filled, but under her therapist’s guidance, the words gradually began to return. Although fatigue and nervousness still make speaking difficult at times, the progress has been significant:
“I always do my homework diligently and take an active part in therapy, and I believe that has helped my recovery. My partner has helped me with the exercises, and doing things with the family also supports my ability to speak,” Riikka says.

After the second illness episode, Riikka and her family made the difficult decision to give up their farm. However, the decision was a step toward a calmer life.

Learning how to rest has been completely new for the former workaholic. Her hectic lifestyle has been replaced with filling in a coloring book. Riikka has also been trying to learn to take daytime naps, as she knows sleep is a crucial factor in healing. 
“Recovery time has been a period of pausing and learning new things for me. I used to be very work-oriented and rarely rested, even during vacations. Now I’ve had to learn how to relax and live differently – a skill that would probably benefit all of us,” Riikka describes.

The speech therapist encourages her and helps her move forward one step at a time

Small everyday challenges, such as making phone calls or remembering schedules, have become easier with practice – even the family calendar has helped in organizing daily life. During her recovery, Riikka learned to tell people openly about her aphasia, the language disorder that still affects her speech production. This information has helped others understand and give her time to find her words.
“I still have difficulties remembering and processing numbers. Just this week, I showed up at my child’s health clinic appointment an hour early,” she recalls, laughing.

At times, it has been hard for her to notice her own progress, but feedback from her therapist has confirmed that she is consistently moving in the right direction. Riikka has especially appreciated how warm and encouraging her therapist has been:
“It’s wonderful that she is genuinely present and clearly interested in how I’m doing. I’ve been able to trust her expertise completely,” Riikka says.

Riikka has also found clear guidance to be a crucial part of her rehabilitation:
“I like that my therapist always explains clearly what we’re going to do next and why. It helps me understand what the exercises are aiming for,” Riikka says.

A few months ago, Riikka passed a driving test and got her license back after a nine‑month break. Next, she will be considering what kind of work rhythm and everyday life will suit this new phase of her life. Soon she will also undergo neuropsychological tests, which will be used to assess the need for continued therapy. One thing, however, is certain: the new, calmer pace of life is here to stay.