Lambeth stroke survivor Sonia Timlett, 36, is learning to speak again alongside her four-year-old son.
The mother of one is adding her voice to the Stroke Association’s Lost for Words campaign after she suffered from a stroke in 2009 which left her unable to speak.
Mrs Timlett, one of 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of a stroke, said it came as a complete shock when she found out she’d suffered one.
She said: “I thought strokes only happened to older people, not young and fit people like me.”
Mrs Timlett recalled that the worst thing was not being able to tell anyone how she was feeling, which left her feeling cut off, scared and isolated.
Very slowly, words began to come back to her and she was gradually able to build sentences.
A year and half after her stroke, Mrs Timlett decided she wanted to get back to work and was desperate to help other stroke survivors.
She now works with the Stroke Association as a family and career support coordinator, but the road to recovery isn’t easy.
Mrs Timlett said: “Recovering from a stroke is a long journey and it can take a lifetime.
“I’m still recovering from mine, but the stroke survivors I work with on a daily basis help me enormously.
In 2013 I had my beautiful son, Sammy. As he’s been learning how to talk, so have I.”
Michelle Dalmacio, director of stroke support south at the Stroke Association, said: “Sonia’s passion to help other stroke survivors is incredible.
“Her dedication and encouragement to others is just wonderful.”
