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- Singing sensation Lira has reflected on her 16-month-long journey to recovery following the stroke she suffered in April 2022.
- The songbird was in Germany for a show when the stroke happened.
- Speaking publicly for the first time since then, in an interview, Lira said she was "very excited" because she could talk.
A month after taking the brave step of speaking publicly in a radio interview for the first time since her stroke, singing sensation Lira reflected on her 16-month-long journey to recovery. The Feel Good hitmaker suffered a stroke in April 2022 while in Germany for a show.
Taking to social media, the 44-year-old shared a photo of a list of words she could pronounce again.
"Today, I found this list of words I could say. I started this list from the end of April 2022," she wrote. "I would keep adding to the list whenever I learnt a new word. By the end of May, I could say so many words I didn't bother with adding to the list."
The singer, real name Lerato Molapo, said coming across the list reminded her of how far she had come since the stroke, which affected her ability to speak.
"I am reminded of how hard I had to work. I'm proud of myself," she continued. "After 16 months – I'm speaking about my stroke recovery journey to audiences. I'm able to read and write this post. I'm so blessed."
Speaking to friend and neighbour Relebogile Mabotja in her first media interview since the stroke on Radio 702's The Upside of Failure segment, Lira said: "I'm very excited because I can speak."
Her excitement to speak was justified because six months after the stroke, she was diagnosed with aphasia – a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension. However, the songbird noted that it was reversible and that she had made much progress since then.
When Mabotja asked her about choosing to speak publicly, Lira said: "People have been asking me to share my story, and I wasn't ready because I couldn't talk."
"I wasn't ready to speak in a conversation, but now I am ready."
Opening up about when the stroke happened, Lira said the sensation lasted for about 15 minutes.
"It wasn't painful. It was an uncomfortable feeling in my head," she said. "I walked into a restaurant, and I wanted to ask them where my hotel was. I wasn't lost, but I'd been walking around. The hotel was nearby."
Lira said she intended to ask the restaurant staff for help, but "my voice didn't come out".
