A video has become popular on social networks where an eight-year-old boy helps his father Rich (53) with talking. But behind this happy brief moment lies a difficult family struggle. The man had to relearn how to speak words and sentences after a stroke almost took his life.
- Father Rich suffered two unexpected strokes within a few hours.
- Doctors said she would never eat, walk or talk again.
- Thanks to intensive treatment, he regained basic skills.
- Daily rehabilitation and the help of his son help him recover.
Sudden health problems
It all started when Rich was returning home last October. While driving, he felt severe pain in his jaw and flashes before his eyes. He managed to get to the hospital, but collapsed in the emergency room. It turned out that he had survived a stroke.
Later that night, a blood clot caused a second, even more serious stroke. Doctors later discovered that the cause was an unexpected aortic dissection. The prognosis was very poor. “They told me he might never walk on his own, eat without help or hold a normal conversation,” Rich’s wife Lizzy said.
After three weeks of intensive rehabilitation, Rich returned home to the US state of Rhode Island. A serious health condition meant that he could no longer work or drive the car he loved so much. His right hand is almost completely numb and he has to undergo daily physical therapy to regain strength and speech.
His eight-year-old son Richie played a key role in this process. The boy trains with his father every day, repeating sentences, singing and encouraging him. “He turns every progress into a joint victory,” added Lizzy. It was during one of these sessions that a video was made of a boy teaching his father basic words. “People see only a few seconds of hope, but not the path that led to it“, the mother stated.
Currently, Rich attends physical therapy, occupational therapy twice a week and undergoes regular sessions with a speech therapist. At home, he uses special aids to support recovery after a stroke. On this long and difficult journey, his greatest support is his son Richie, who helps him take a small step forward every day.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
