Nomsa Shabalala is a mother of two who lives in Soweto. Before her stroke, she was a training and development manager at PRASA.
In November 2016 she suffered a debilitating stroke that left her unable to walk or do basic tasks for herself – she even lost the ability to speak which was something she did with much confidence before.
“I could not go to church or take part in community activities anymore because of my inability to walk or use public transport,” she said. “Rehabilitation helped me bounce back, and now I am able to walk and use public transport by myself again. I sit in the church pews every week and hoping that I will soon be able to drive my own car; more than anything I’d like to get back to work.”
Learning to talk again was just one of the major challenges faced by Nomsa, she was however determined not to let her voice disappear. She worked tirelessly with her therapists from Phila Sonke Wellness Initiative to allow her to recover.
While she may never be the same as she was before, she is well on her way to a new normal. She is learning how to write with her left hand and slowly getting back into the swing of things.