Jason Aldag multimedia journalist
Njeri Shomari
In April of 2007, Njeri Shomari had a transient ischemic attack suffering a stroke while on a business trip in Washington, D.C. After her stroke, she was hospitalized for a month going to therapy every day for six weeks to regain her speech and the use of the right side of her body at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
In April of 2007, Njeri Shomari had a transient ischemic attack suffering a stroke while on a business trip in Washington, D.C. After her stroke, she was hospitalized for a month going to therapy every day for six weeks to regain her speech and the use of the right side of her body at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Jennie Swatling, a physical therapist, works with Shomari on balance and mobility at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Originally from Lawrence, Kan., Shomari lives in the District with her sister while under going extensive rehabilitation.
After her stroke, Shomari was hospitalized for a month and went to therapy every day for six weeks to regain her speech and the use of the right side of her body.
Shomari’s occupational therapist, April Shaffer, worked with her for five months. Here she helps Shomari on regaining motor control with her right arm.
“I exercised, I didn't drink or smoke. I ate healthy. So even when you think you are doing everything right, things go wrong.” - Njeri Shomari
Through therapy, Shomari regained her speech but has Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS), a rare occurrence after a brain injury. Originally from Kansas, people now mistake her for someone from the Caribbean.
Shomari sees the glass as half full and spends her free time working on a book about health care, stroke survival, family, love and community that she hopes to have published someday.
Shomari wants to help others recover and to spread the word on ways to prevent strokes. “Life is never going to be the same,” she said. “What an incredible opportunity I had...so I went about reinventing myself.”
Jason Aldag
multimedia journalist