Illness: When Your Body Goes Silent

What if you woke up one day unable to speak, move, or even swallow? Vanessa Abraham, a thriving speech pathologist and mother, was plunged into a life-threatening health crisis that left her trapped in her own body. With no clear diagnosis and a long road ahead, she found herself on the other side of the hospital bed, experiencing everything she once treated. In this episode, Vanessa shares how she reclaimed her voice, fought for her life, and redefined her identity in the aftermath. You’ll hear: What it's like to live with post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) How motherhood fueled her survival Why community and mental health advocacy are at the heart of her healing About Vanessa Abraham Vanessa Abraham, M.S. CCC-SLP, is a certified speech pathologist, author, and advocate for ICU survivors. With over 15 years of experience, she has worked extensively with children using communication devices, a skill she unexpectedly relied on during her own medical journey. Vanessa is now a passionate advocate for trauma-informed care and post-intensive care syndrome awareness, using her personal story to educate and inspire others. Her memoir, Speechless, captures her journey from provider to patient and back, offering hope and insight to those navigating similar challenges. Connect with Vanessa: Book: Speechless on Amazon Instagram: @speechless_slp Facebook: Speechless SLP Resources: To listen in on more conversations about pivotal moments that changed lives forever, subscribe to "The Life Shift" on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars and leave a review! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Access ad-free episodes released two days early: https://patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Subscribe to The Life Shift Newsletter: https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/newsletter/ The Life Shift was just named one of the top 60 life-changing podcasts by FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/life_changing_podcasts/ Connect with me: Instagram: www.instagram.com/thelifeshiftpodcast Facebook: www.facebook.com/thelifeshiftpodcast YouTube: https://bit.ly/thelifeshift_youtube Twitter: www.twitter.com/thelifeshiftpod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelifeshiftpodcast Website: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com Topics Discussed The rare Guillain-Barre variant that left Vanessa paralyzed overnight Transitioning from a speech pathologist to an ICU patient The fear and confusion of not having a diagnosis for four months Using communication boards and eye gaze to connect with her care team Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and its emotional toll How her daughter became her reason to live Reclaiming her identity after losing her independence Returning to work with a trauma-informed perspective The mental health gap in ICU aftercare Her book Speechless and its mission to educate clinicians and families This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices