Testimonials

Hi, Angel. Thank you so much for your handwritten note thanking me for posting a link to your recent article in advance of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders website. What a nice gesture. I really appreciate it, and please know that it is my pleasure to post the link. Are you comfortable with me including the link, a short excerpt from your article, and a photo of you and Keith in the fall issue of Communique, the department's biannual news publication? The readership includes CSD alumni and donors, the heads of comparable academic programs, and Speech and Language Hearing Associations nationwide, and SLPs throughout the state of Florida. I'm certain the readership would find your article very interesting. Please let me know. Best wishes, -- College of Health and Public Affairs, strengthening communities and changing lives.

Angel, you continue to amaze me in your humble approach and response to all that has happened to you since you graduated. You are an instrument of change, and your experiences inform and guide your colleagues as they practice to help families and persons post-trauma learn about the disorders associated with this life-changing event. Sincerely, Charlotte Harvey, UCF.

Dear Mrs. Carson, I wanted to thank you for taking time to share your story. It really touched me. I learned from you that I definitely want to be a speech pathologist. You have assured me about this career path and that all this hard work in school will make a difference in someone's life. I learned about the struggles of before, during, and after losing speech. I was so impressed when you showed us the MRI. It was really interesting that you taught us about an MRI as it pertained to your story. You reassured me that speech language pathology is a caring profession. The story that touched me the most was the one where your speech and language pathologist would take the time just to talk to you and that you had that comfort with him, that he wouldn't judge or belittle you, just help you. I want to be that to someone. Thank you so much. P. S. Take care.

Dear Mrs. Carson, Thank you so much for making the time to stop by and share your story. This was my first official class learning about language, and I got more than I thought I signed up for. I've learned so much, and hearing about your story really puts things in perspective for me. Learning about your surgery and how it affected your speech and personal life was really touching, and it is a story I will never forget. I would not be surprised if someday soon you become a famous figure in the speech-language pathology field. Your story gives the world so much insight on how patients feel when they are going through the same situation you were in. Everyone who listens to your experience will benefit as speech-language pathologists by learning how to better understand and communicate with their patients. Please don't ever be discouraged to share your story. You got your voice there. Now let it be heard.

Dear Ms. Carson, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for coming to speak to our class. Unlike most of my classmates, I'm not enrolled in the course because I plan to be a speech-language pathologist. Instead, I am part of the early childhood development major and hope to one day be a voice for children in bad home situations. I really had no knowledge of speech-language pathology prior to your presentation. I learned a lot from listening to you. I had no idea that your condition was so rare, and even more remarkable was the determination to push through it. I also never really stopped to think about how retrieval works. I am an awful speller, as I am sure you have gathered from my letter thus far. So only being able to communicate via writing would be dreadful for me. I also learned that there is no need to pity someone who has had a medical problem. This week, my grandmother went in for a biopsy in order to see if her tumor is cancerous. I shared your story with her, I hope you don't mind, and it really helped her to keep positive. The most important thing that I learned from you is that being able to empathize with people is not something that can be taught. The world needs people like you in order to reach all of the people in need. Please keep inspiring those you've come in contact with. You have certainly inspired me.

Dear Mrs. Carson, I first wanna thank you for your time and patience. Not only are you a great individual, but you are an inspiration. Not everyone can overcome a traumatic time in their lives. By saying that, you should want to share your story with others. People that are going through a rough time need to hear from people like you. They need hope that anything is possible. You are a living testimony that anything is possible, and that God works in mysterious ways. There were a few things that caught my attention. The way you trusted in your speech language pathologist was because he made you feel like a normal human being. I honestly feel that most speech language pathologists carry this characteristic of being understanding, caring, and hopeful. Your presentation not only brought chills throughout my body, but brought tears to my eyes. You are truly a strong woman. You made me want to become a speech language pathologist more than ever. Not just because of your story, but because I want to change people's life. My passion is to help people succeed and become confident. We all need someone to lean on. Having mine by your side believing in you must have been an amazing feeling. I don't know anything about your children and husband; I am sure they are proud of you and your accomplishments. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you, and I want you to know that you have inspired me and made me feel more passionate about becoming a speech-language pathologist. Your journey has touched me in ways I cannot describe. Your journey gives people hope. Your journey is going to make you stronger than you could imagine. Your journey has influenced me to live life with the utmost respect, love, and happiness for what I have been blessed with. Thank you for sharing your journey and deepest thoughts with me. Till we meet again.

Dear Mrs. Carson, Thank you very much for speaking to my language science class at UCF. Your story was fascinating, as I aspire to become a speech language pathologist as well. It was inspiring to see your journey through cancer and how you emerged stronger from the other side. I lost my own husband to cancer seven years ago, so I can relate to your battles with surgery, chemo, and radiation. I learned from your speech that it is important to set up a relationship between the speech therapist and his or her client. This relationship allows the client to feel more comfortable with her therapist and inspires her to work a little harder. I also learned that speech therapy is only one aspect of rehabilitation. Occupational and physical therapists must work alongside the speech therapist to see to the well-being of the client. You must have a lot of patience and empathy for others to be an SLP. You must understand that your client is not mentally deficient just because she can't speak or speak well. You must tell people who are going through a difficult time in their own lives to see the silver lining or the light at the end of the tunnel. I learned that people can survive and come back from cancer. They can get better and stronger than they were before. Finally, I learned that it is important to have a strong support system to help out through such a difficult time in your life. You obviously had a wonderful family and friends to support you throughout your illness, surgery, and recovery. I envy you. Your mentor, she seems to be a great person. Thank you again for speaking to my class. It was interesting and inspirational. I wish you the best of luck in the future.

Dear Mrs. Carson, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time out of your busy schedule to speak with us about your extremely emotional experience. I cannot imagine the tremendous amount of strength and courage you had that day. By listening to your presentation. I have learned a few different things. One of the first things I've learned is to never, ever give up hope, not only in my future patients, but within myself as well. I have learned to not only be there for my patients, but to be their supporter and motivator as well. Another important thing I have learned is that just because a person cannot speak does not mean they are incapable of understanding what is going on around them. One of the four things I've learned is that regaining speech takes time, and that I will need to have patience with each individual I encounter. Lastly, I have learned that as a speech pathologist, I will not only have the chance to change my patient's life, but their loved ones' lives as well. Also, as a speech pathologist, I will know that I will be a mentor to my patient and their loved ones as well. I want you to know you are truly an inspiration. I hope you will continue to share your amazing, incredible, emotional journey with the world. You honestly don't know how humbled I am to have experienced, at least I now feel like I have, this emotional rollercoaster with you. Please don't ever stop sharing your journey with others. You never know how many more lives you might be changed.

Hi Angel, Thank you so much for your hand written (!) note thanking me for posting a link to your recent article in ADVANCE on the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders website. What a nice gesture! I really appreciate it. And please know that it was my pleasure to post the link. Are you comfortable with my including the link, a short excerpt from your article, and the photo of you and Keith in the fall issue of Communique, the department's biannual news publication? The readership includes CSD alumni and donors, the heads of comparable academic programs and speech-language-hearing associations nationwide, and SLPs throughout the state of Florida. I'm certain the readership would find your article very interesting. Please let me know. Best wishes.

Dear Ms. Carson, Thank you for taking the time to speak to us in class on October 30 2014. I found your presentation to be very interesting and very easy to follow. I can honestly put forth the effort 100% and pursue my dream of becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist.
At first, I was set on working with only children but after hearing your story. I am open to working with adults. Just to reflect on some of the things you covered in class that I will always carry with me: Put yourself in the patients shoes and consider ways in making them most comfortable.
Educate the loved ones so they can better care for the patient, find what motivates the patient during their therapy, know that there are many opportunities out there for pathologist- it goes beyond working in a school or hospital and last but not least… love what you do and you’ll never have to work another day in your life.

I just appreciate you in so many ways! Thanks for being so strong and encouraging. You’ve taught and inspired so many people around you. This is only the beginning! I will continue to follow your journey! Love,

Dear Ms. Carson, Thank you for taking the time to come into our classroom and sharing your life story with us. During your presentation I learned that anyone who has the strength you have, can accomplish anything.
I also learned that even though there is a frontal tumor in the brain a person is still able to recover and continue a normal life. As an aspiring speech pathologist, I learned the importance of patience that is for others. I learned that I need to enjoy everyday with my family and close friends because you never know when and how it can change.
As I listened to you talk about Mike have on the life of others and it also made me sometimes thought otherwise. I hope that coming in our class has inspired you to tell about your life experiences with others because I know it will change many lives as you have changed mine. Sincerely

Dear Ms. Carson, I would like to thank you for coming to our class and taking the time out of your day to share your story with us. You helped me learn a lot about my major and helped me realize this is really where I want to go with my life. I never realized how hard it could be for people with speech disorders to communicate to others.
You have opened my eyes to how I would like to treat the people who come to see me. I want to treat them how you treat them. The way your speech pathologist treated you. It amazes me how one day you can be functioning properly the next day you could need surgery and never be the same again. It scares me but you showed me that people can pull through the hard times. You inspire me. Your positive attitude is infectious.
I’m happy that I went to class last week because if you keep your head and stay positive that things will get better, you can get through. I admire you for sticking with your job even after all the trials that you went through, I can easily tell that you love your job. I hope one day that I can love my job that much and put as much care and effort into it as you do. Again, thank you so much for coming in. You were a fantastic public speaker, you should really give it a whirl. Sincerely,

Dear Ms. Carson, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for coming out to UCF to speak to our class. In your presentation, I learned that despite the many challenges we may face, one should never lose the courage to move forward.
You mentioned that there is a purpose/reason for everything, and one should not be afraid but embrace every struggle/ obstacle to make us stronger! I also learned that in the midst of our struggles, we will always have and angel to guide us through, our family, friends, mentors, therapists, etc. With their courage and motivation, we can fly to greater heights and attain unimaginable goals, such as your passion to coordinate a run to raise awareness and funds to a very important cause and your commitment to continue to embrace your profession and deliver quality work to your patients!
As an aspiring speech and language pathologist, I learned that one serves a very important role not only for the family but the patient. Because my interest is working with children, my thought has always been that they wouldn’t recall the help received, but regardless of whether they do or don’t the child will be impacted in such a significant way. You are truly an inspiration to so many.
Thank you for taking on this mission and spreading your message for others to share. Respectfully

This is easily a five-star read. Angel-Marie Carson shares a raw and honest account of diagnosis, surgery, and recovery in a way that feels real, relatable, and deeply human. What I really appreciate is how easy it is to read. The writing flows naturally, so you don’t feel overwhelmed, even though the subject matter is serious. It feels more like a conversation than a clinical explanation, which makes it accessible to anyone.
Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a healthcare professional, or just someone who wants a better understanding of what people go through during medical challenges, this book delivers. It gives you insight into the experience from the inside without ever feeling heavy or hard to follow.
It’s even a great read for younger audiences many will find themselves drawn in by the story and staying for the honesty and emotion woven throughout. Overall, it’s honest, engaging, and incredibly approachable, a great read for anyone.

This book is a deeply personal and powerful story of a woman in the prime of life diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. A career speech pathologist highly trained to help others communicate- she herself must now learn how to speak again to navigate through the diagnosis surgery and recovery. The reader is drawn into the frustrations and the fears.  The painful realities of losing the ability to communicate.  A poignant story of personal strength and determination to overcome and get back to her life.

I met Angel at the health club that we both attend. Most days, our conversations were light and casual. But one day, she shared her story with me, and I immediately told her, “You should write a book.” She smiled and said, “I already did, I’m in the process of publishing it.” She later invited me to her event, and it was incredible to witness. Seeing her standing there confident, radiant, signing copies of her book, was something special. I bought a copy, and I can honestly say: hearing her story in person is one thing, but reading it is an entirely different experience. The book is simple, yet powerful. Clear, direct, and deeply moving. It tells the story of someone who faced what science might limit, yet overcame through faith, resilience, and a commitment to herself. As I read, I felt everything, her pain, her frustration, and ultimately, her transformation. There were moments that brought me to tears. You can truly see the hand of God throughout her journey, through her physical therapy, her hope, and what I can only describe as a miracle in motion. Angel is living proof of strength, faith, and perseverance. I won’t spoil the book, you need to experience it for yourself. But I will say this: Angel is an inspiration. Her story challenges all of us to rise, to believe, and to live with strength and faith.

I found Angel Carson's book incredibly moving and insightful. It gave me a much deeper understanding of what it means to lose your voice—literally and figuratively. I'd especially recommend it to anyone facing a similar battle or supporting a loved one who has lost their ability to speak. It’s a powerful, hopeful read from someone who truly knows the struggle.