In this powerful Aphasia Awareness Month episode of The Broken Road Podcast, Trent sits down with Janu Orrick and Demetrius Moreno to talk about life after stroke, aphasia, caregiving, recovery, and the power of being truly heard. Just before his 55th birthday, Demetrius suffered a massive stroke. Doctors told him he would likely never walk or talk again and that a care home may be his future. But Demetrius and his longtime friend and care partner, Janu, refused to accept that prognosis. More than three years later, Demetrius continues to work hard every day through exercise, speech practice, and one-on-one conversation. Together, they share the reality of expressive aphasia, apraxia, isolation, caregiver exhaustion, financial stress, and the slow, steady work of rebuilding a life after brain injury. Their journey also inspired Janu to create AphasiaPals, a non-clinical conversation support service designed to help people with aphasia practice communication, feel connected, and be reminded that they are still themselves. This conversation is about more than recovery. It is about patience, purpose, advocacy, faith, laughter, and learning how to listen with your heart. Whether you are a stroke survivor, brain injury survivor, caregiver, care partner, therapist, family member, or someone learning about aphasia for the first time, this episode is a reminder that no one should have to walk the broken road alone. Topics discussed: Aphasia awareness, stroke recovery, expressive aphasia, apraxia, caregiving after stroke, caregiver burnout, communication support, isolation after brain injury, AphasiaPals, and finding purpose after trauma. Learn more about The Broken Road Project: https://www.thebrokenroad.org/ https://www.carecredit.com/ Subscribe for more conversations about stroke recovery, brain injury, faith, resilience, and life on the broken road. 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Demetrius’ miraculous recovery 02:22 - The importance of positivity in stroke rehabilitation 05:08 - Talking about communication needs and aphasia awareness 09:02 - The power of holding space and intentional listening 13:52 - Inspiration from mentor groups and community support 17:13 - Explaining aphasia in simple terms 21:28 - The value of foundational, neuro-based therapy approaches 28:47 - Holistic approaches to health, including chiropractic care 36:51 - Caregivers’ mental health and the importance of self-care 44:39 - Financial strategies and managing the burden of rehab costs 55:33 - Shifting perspectives and fostering hope 58:01 - A final message of resilience and asking, “How does it get better?” #AphasiaAwareness #AphasiaAwarenessMonth #StrokeRecovery #Aphasia #Apraxia #CaregiverSupport #BrainInjuryRecovery #StrokeSurvivor #StrokeThriver #TheBrokenRoadProjectPodcast #BrokenRoadProject #AphasiaPals

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Phillip Oxendine, also known as Aphasia Phil, to talk about life after stroke, living with aphasia, and finding a new voice through recovery, community, and advocacy.

Phil shares his personal journey of rebuilding communication, staying motivated through the hard days, and using his story to encourage other stroke survivors, people with aphasia, caregivers, and families. This conversation is a reminder that aphasia does not mean someone has lost their intelligence, their purpose, or their voice.

We also discuss the importance of support systems, speech therapy, self-advocacy, and organizations like Bryn Mawr Rehab that help survivors continue moving forward.

Connect with Aphasia Phil: YouTube: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aphasia-phil/id1805271142 National Aphasia Association Resource Page: https://aphasia.org/resource/aphasia-phil/ Email: justphil215@gmail.com

Remember: It’s your voice. Use it.

#AphasiaPhil #AphasiaAwareness #StrokeRecovery #LifeAfterStroke #StrokeSurvivor #Aphasia #BrainInjuryRecovery #SpeechTherapy #Neuroplasticity #CaregiverSupport #BrynMawrRehab

This is the full conversation and final release in our Faith After Stroke series on The Broken Road Podcast. In this episode, we bring together the full story of faith, stroke recovery, suffering, healing, and purpose. Stroke recovery is not only physical — it is emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. This conversation explores what it means to keep trusting God when life changes suddenly and the road ahead looks nothing like what you expected. We talk about faith in suffering, the questions that come after a life-changing health crisis, and how God can still bring purpose from pain. This episode is personal to me, and my hope is that it encourages stroke survivors, caregivers, families, and anyone walking through a difficult season. Sometimes the broken road is where faith becomes real. Subscribe to The Broken Road Project Podcast for more conversations about faith, recovery, purpose, and the stories God writes through unexpected roads. Topics covered: Faith after stroke Stroke recovery and purpose Christian encouragement Healing after hardship Trusting God in suffering Purpose after pain Stroke survivor testimony Faith and recovery journey

#FaithAfterStroke #StrokeRecovery #ChristianPodcast #TheBrokenRoadPodcast #StrokeSurvivor #FaithAndHealing #PurposeAfterPain #ChristianEncouragement #HealingJourney #Testimony #GodsPlan #FaithThroughSuffering #HopeAfterStroke #BrokenRoadProject #UpstrokePodcast