“I Had to Learn Like a Child”: Lira Opens Up on How She Had to Relearn the Alphabet After Suffering a Stroke
Acclaimed musician Lira, born Lerato Moipone Molapo, has embarked on an extraordinary journey of resilience and determination after a debilitating stroke left her unable to speak, read, or write.
In a candid interview on Radio 702’s with Relebogile Mabotja on the show called “The Upside of Failure,” Lira opened up about her emotional battle to reclaim her voice, facing the language disorder aphasia head-on, and the painstaking process of learning to speak again from scratch.
The Stroke that Stole her Voice
Lira’s life took an unexpected turn when she suffered a debilitating stroke in Frankfurt, Germany, fourteen months ago.
Lira who was scheduled to perform in Germany was walking around sightseeing, she experienced the stroke.
Lira said she was shocked when she was told she had suffered a stroke and being alone at the time was emotionally overwhelming.
“I was not worried about the band and everything and was by myself. I cried all day going through all this,” shared Lira in an emotional interview.
The Diagnosis and Hope
Six months after the stroke, Lira received the diagnosis that she was facing aphasia, a challenging language disorder that affects communication in various ways. However, hope and determination prevailed as doctors assured her that she could regain her speech.
“They were kind to me, and I had a whole bunch of doctors investigating my case,” she recalled, finding solace in the possibility of reclaiming her voice.
The Grueling Road to Recovery: Relearning the Alphabet
Lira’s journey to recovery was undoubtedly a daunting one, demanding unwavering dedication and perseverance.
She had to learn the alphabet to put words together and learn to speak and write like a child.
Her speech therapy commenced in Germany but continued as she returned to Johannesburg.
“I had to say each word… I was struggling to say a, e, i, o, u. I had to learn the alphabet to put words together. I had to learn like a child,” she shared, recounting the challenges she faced.
Lira Celebrates Milestones on Journey to Recovery
After a stroke left her voiceless, the talented songstress now finds solace in the smallest victories, including being able to pronounce her full name, Lerato.
“I could say Lira, but I couldn’t say Lerato because the language is a bit different.”
Reflecting on her recovery journey, Lira also revealed the difficulties she encountered while undergoing speech therapy in English. The stroke had damaged her language center, making it harder for her to articulate words in her native languages, IsiZulu and Sesotho.
“My language centre is damaged. And because English was the language I received my speech therapy in, I became proficient in speaking English. Zulu and Sotho, I can hear, but it’s tougher for me to say each word,” Lira explained.