After Words

by Nina Mitchell

In this darkly comic memoir, a young woman recounts the steps she took to rebuild her sense of self in the aftermath of two devastating strokes that robbed her of her ability to communicate.

Nina Mitchell was an accomplished Harvard graduate whose world changed forever when her facility with language—and much of her personality—disappeared. Lacking the tools to navigate her old life, Nina was forced to create another one. In After Words, she shares her remarkable journey as she slowly reclaims the power to converse, write, assert her identity, and to be herself—with words.

Nina Mitchell’s After Words is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives—from the mysterious to the inspiring. Each story can be read—or listened to—in a single sitting.

Genres: Nonfiction, Short Stories, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Health, Disability

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2018

Reviews

[MarilynW]

After Words is part of the Kindle Unlimited Missing Collection of short stories. Nina Mitchell, a high school valedictorian and Harvard graduate, is in her mid twenties when she has a stroke. Months later she has an even more devastating stroke, that robs her of the ability to communicate or even think words. Her right arm and leg are affected also but the damage to those two limbs is so much easier to endure than the loss of her ability to speak, write, and think the words that fuel our ability to express ourselves. We can never really appreciate what we have until it's taken away from us. Nina relates her experience and what she did to take back that which she had lost. 

The Missing Collection: Nina Mitchell’s After Words is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives—from the mysterious to the inspiring.

[Dez the Bookworm]

Very insightful read.

My Grandmother had a stroke a few months ago, so this was a real eye opener to what a stroke can do to a person. Nina chronicles her life as a two time stroke patient and relives the days that she can remember and the struggles that she had to go through.

It was a short read with really good first hand knowledge. If my Grandmother had not had a stroke, I still would have found this an interesting read.

[M. Sarki]

Sadly honest read of the trials one formally gifted woman endures after losing her words and mind. A story of her debilitating strokes and the author's path to 100% recovery that is destined to take the rest of her life.

[Yoly]

Very interesting memoir.

[Cindy]

An inspiring story!

Nina had two strokes in her twenties. As a parent, I know how devastating and helpless you feel because my son had one at the age of 22. His was not as severe as Nina's but still terrifying.

She was very lucky to have had good doctors and physical therapists to help her recover. But she deserves all the credit! Her strong will and personality helped her to overcome the difficulties the strokes caused.

I am very impressed by her writing her own story and wish her all the best in life.

[Dawn]

This is the second short I’ve read from the just released Amazon Original Stories ‘Missing’ collection. (They are free for Amazon Prime Members via the Prime Reads perk!) All are non-fiction shorts that can be read in one sitting (an hour or less). All are about finding truths, accepting losses, and restoring normal. Each ranges from being a mysterious story to inspirational triumph. This one is a medical triumph written by a 26 year old Harvard grad who survives two strokes and has to learn to walk and talk again - somewhat reminiscent of Brain on Fire. 3*

[Sara]

I don't rate biographies and memoirs.

Strokes make up a large part of my day to day work life, and I see a lot of people with aphasia and dysphasia so it was really interesting to read about it from a patients point of view. Nina Mitchell speaks eloquently about her experiences recovering from not one, but two, haemorrhagic strokes. Aside from the odd sentence or two regarding MRI interpretation in stroke which weren't accurate (I feel I can nitpick about this, it's my job) I also found it informative and accessible and added that often much needed human factor when reading about medicine.

[Amy]

This is the story of the author's recovery from two strokes she had at a young age.

[Stacy Croushorn]

Yes, you can have a stroke when you are young

This story is about a young woman who had a stroke and had to re-learn many basic things. I related to this story very well. When I had my stroke I couldn’t stand bright lights or loud sounds. The physical effects lasted only a short time, but I remember trying to read something and not being able to and it just killed my soul. Luckily, I have been an elementary teacher and have lots of low level books which I started reading and gradually increased the difficulty as I began to read better. I still have problem thinking and putting words together sometimes, especially when I’m tired. I haven’t returned to the pre-stroke me, probably never will, but I get along alright and that’s what this girl did too, she made it the best she could.

[John]

Another short book in the Kindle “Missing”collection. You would think that it would be easy to generate sympathy if you had not one, but two strokes by the age of 26’ the second of which makes you lose your ability to speak coherently. Somehow Ms. Mitchell manages to come off entitled and kind of nasty. She overuses the f word and explains how her friends tell her after she had the strokes she is too aggressive with waiters etc. as she is learning to speak again. After listing her efforts to change this she finishes with this statement: “I became the best f...ing customer they would ever have.” To my mind negating all of her hard efforts, but hey, that’s just me.

[Diana]

A Stroke Survivor Tells Her Story

And what an amazing story this is. I was very impressed with Ms. Mitchell's honesty and humor as she related details of the mental and physical trials as she went through therapy for both of the strokes she experienced. I was totally immersed in this book, and intend to re-read it, probably several times. Excellent writing and details. Amazing how our frail bodies and spirits persevere. 👍👍👍👍👍

[Marcey Rader]

This is a short, 54-minute audiobook that I listened to after learning about aphasia from my friend, Helen Moses, who has asked for donations to the Triangle Aphasia Project for her 50th birthday (how cool is that?). This story about a woman in her 20s who had a stroke that resulted in aphasia (loss of speech), was done in a way that made me think "this could happen to anyone" while at the same time, wasn't tragic or pitiful and written with a sense of humor. Highly recommend!

[C. Roberts]

CVA

I worked for neurologists for six years. I did medical transcription. I learned enough to know she is a walking medical miracle. I am old now and have seen a lot. I think Nina's recovery is spectacular. Her determination is remarkable. I loved her story and am amazed that she recorded her progress.

[Elizabeth Edwards]

found this on AMAZON PRIME, loved it ... this is just an emotional listen ... makes u think and makes you sort of understand more what someone who has gone through a stroke goes through and deals with on a daily basis. loved this series ... i think it is called the Missing Series by AMAZON ...such a great listen ... opens your mind and hearts more. ( ;

[Moraima]

Extremely interesting look at what this stroke victim went through and how she handled the obstacles of her new life.

[Maria Vargas]

Even after having two strokes at the young age of 26, Nina decided to write about her experience. It's sad, frustrating, and like she even says when you can't find the right words to describe or name what you are seeing, makes you say fuck.

But to open my mouth with some idea of what I wanted to say and have nothing, nothing come out, was true frustration. Language is what makes us human, what separates us from the animals. Aphasia makes you feel like a beast, no matter how eloquent you are inside.

Her life took a twist with the first stroke but when the second one happened, her life changed entirely. She talks about the simple things we get for granted like language and losing the ability to think coherently. The feeling of been there but not at all at the same time.

Terrifying at her young age but how brave she is for trying to go back to her 100% and tell her story.

[Ronnie Cramer]

I recently read a book entitled THE WOMAN IN THE STRONGBOX, about a mysterious girl who went missing, created a false identity, and then lived her life as another person. I enjoyed the book so when I saw that it was part of a 'Missing' series, I grabbed the others. It turns out it is not a series about missing people. AFTER WORDS is the story of a woman recovering from a stroke; the element that is 'missing' is part of her vocabulary, which she worked to regain. Interesting in its' own way, but not something I would have read had it not been for misunderstanding what the 'series' was about.

[Angieleigh]

Nina Mitchell’s After Words is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives—from the mysterious to the inspiring. Each story can be read—or listened to—in a single sitting.

I enjoyed Mitchell's short about her strokes and how she was able to relearn language after her horrible second stroke.

[Nyssa]

My initial reaction- Strokes sound frightening and aphasia sounds terrifying!!

I appreciate the author’s candor and detail in describing her journey.

The best thing about this story is that there is not only light at the end of the tunnel, but it is reachable!

[Michelle]

This was an inside look at what it would feel like to have something we take for granted suddenly stripped away. I found it insightful and informative as well as entertaining in a darkly comedic way. And the narrator was perfect for this an audiobook. I enjoyed listening while walking my dog. It is reasonably short and yet the perfect length to tell the story in a meaningful way.

[Keyona]

Can you say...bored to tears? For something only 30 mins...gosh it was painful.

[Thebestdogmom]

This was a free book (if you have Amazon Prime) I really enjoyed this one. Sad but honest story.

[Karen]

Just a very short book I picked up from Amazon. Young person with brain injuries due to strokes.

[Yordanos]

I felt the terror more than the humor in this story (still appreciated what it must have taken for the author to offer her story with this mix of vulnerability and levity) — An incredible journey!

[Mrl]

What we take for granted

The accomplishments are most noteworthy. We take so much for granted. Made me more aware of what a person goes through during such a life changing event, something that takes away every ounce of understanding even what has happened to them, the extent of rehab, and being able to stick with climbing the mountains of recovery. The success this writer has achieved is phenomenal. Being able to relate those achievements surely is even more noteworthy. Thank you for allowing us into your life to know your success and achievements.

[Nicole C. (using StoryGraph more these days)]

An insightful look into one person's experiences with regaining language after two strokes.

[Jonathan Maas]

Nina Mitchell is incredible

She got knocked back a bit in life, and then she really pushed through.

Just an incredible tale, one that I highly recommend!

It's a read in one sitting tale, and I suggest it to anyone.

[Adrian]

Toward the end of the examination I grabbed the doctor’s arm, quite rudely—violently even, according to Joel—and said, “I have a magical uterus. I got it by getting a classified STD in the military.”

When Nina Mitchell suffered her second stroke in her 20s, her life is turned upside down. After Words, part of the Missing Collection, chronicles her journey from rock bottom to something resembling a recovery.

I had aphasia, from the Greek for “without” and “utterance.”

I said “fuck” a lot. Start a sentence. Say the wrong word. Say “fuck.” Repeat.

Her story is uplifting and shows just what determination and hard work can achieve.

[Garrett Zecker]

Of course, there is plenty to be frustrated with in Big Bezos, our favorite company and man to complain about... But one of the more brilliant aspects of the business model is the parts where we are afforded gorgeous stories written by excellent writers for free - and MISSING is one such series of six stories where Amazon paid authors to write their perspective and interpretation on one topic, and give them away to Kindle owners (or even Kindle app readers) for free.

Missing is a motif that explores the many things that go missing in our lives and the way in which we are affected, each a nonfiction exploration of identity, language, pets, our anatomy, time, and even a parent. Some of them I enjoyed more than others, but all of them are beautifully crafted essays.

The Woman in the Strongbox by Maureen O'Hagan

An absurdly captivating family mystery, this piece explores the background of a wife and mother who committed suicide in 2010. After her passing, her family discovers a strongbox containing forged IDs and birth certificates, several clues as to the identity of the woman she became rather than the one she was born as, and a smattering of evidence proving her entire life had been fabricated. Not even her family or her husband knew her true identity. It is only through some genealogy digging, old photos, and following a deep paper trail back to her abusive upbringing in Pennsylvania that we learn who she truly was and why she hid. O'Hagan is a master storyteller and investigator in this short piece, revealing the intricate lies meant to hide a secretive, traumatic past and reinvent a life. As the first book in the series, it is a remarkably strong opener.

The Stones, The Crows, The Grass, The Moo n by Walter Kirn

Walter Kirn (author of Thumbsucker, Up in the Air, and Blood Will Out) is a favorite of mine, and perhaps my favorite aspect of his work is how transparent and emotionally vulnerable he can be. Frankly, his appearance on my friend Gil Roth's podcast discussing Blood Will Out is a joy to revisit as he talks about his relationship with the murderer and con man Clark Rockefeller. It was great to see his name on this list.

In this quiet, more literary piece, Kirn explores his relationship with his father as he gradually disappears due to a dementia diagnosis. Each of the elements in the title serves as a memory touchpoint for Kirn, reflecting on a childhood growing up in Montana, grief, conversation, fathers and sons, and the unreliability of memory—especially under the circumstances of losing a parent and reconstructing the past. It is a beautiful meditation on time and the relationship we have with ourselves and our parents as everything gradually slips away. This was another favorite in the group.

The Button by Wednesday Martin

While it didn't entirely appeal to me, Wednesday Martin explores an interesting history regarding medicine's dark relationship with the clitoris (the titular "button" being a euphemism). This piece isn't like the others; it isn't a narrative as much as it is a history, anthropological study, and neuroscientific examination—not to mention it features plenty of feminism and personal anecdotal evidence to go around. It is completely clear through her work that we have a long way to go despite the clitoris finally being mapped and 3D printed. Women's health, scientific bias, and global cultural taboos have only confounded something that has been a part of our bodies since the beginning. She makes this clear as she attempts to uncover how "misrepresented, misunderstood, disregarded, dissed, and disappeared" it really is.

After Words by Nina Mitchell

The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis states that "...we are all prisoners of our own language," meaning our native language shapes our perception of the world to such a degree that it can limit our ability to fully understand concepts or experiences outside of its framework. It essentially acts like a "prison" that confines our thinking within its boundaries. But what happens when your ability to use language—to communicate, request, express, and interact—disappears little by little, warping and circumnavigating the crippling effects of stroke-related aphasia?

Another favorite in the series, this piece tells the story of the slow, painful recovery of the author as she struggles with aphasia—a writer's worst nightmare. Language isn't just a communication tool; it is an integral part of one's identity.

Catching Murphy by Wilson Ring

The warmest, most sentimental of the collection, this piece is about what happens when Murphy (a dog) goes missing and a community comes together to find him. Anyone who has ever lost a pet understands a story like this. Through it, one learns that the journey is always about much more than simply locating an animal; it transcends the family to encompass the community, keeping hope alive, jury-rigging an effective trap, and perhaps even learning to let go. It is a beautiful, optimistic story.

Time Out by Claudia Rowe

Work, technology, aging, parenting, and everything happening at breakneck speed makes modern time feel as if it is slipping away, leaving us constantly feeling behind. The secret, as Rowe helps us understand, is recognizing that time cannot be recovered, and that we need to be more intentional with how we use it and where we go rather than lamenting how quickly it accelerates. Rowe is a master at exploring the psychology of how and why we feel that way, and how to accept direction rather than just trying to find more time. Of course, the old saw that it keeps on spinning, spinning, spinning into the future at an ever-faster pace is absolutely true, but we have the power to slow it down and treat every moment, every breath, and every recurring cycle with dignity.

[Angela]

Despite the somewhat serious subject matter, this is a great short story full of humor and candor. It is about a young woman’s journey after having multiple strokes, brain surgery, and stroke rehab. She completely loses her ability to communicate and has to relearn the nuances of communication, including some physical rehabilitation as well.

The narrator does a superb job as well. She paints a very clear mental and verbal picture of this young woman’s difficult, but hopeful journey. I can’t wait to explore other books narrated by her.