On 25 August 2020, Terence Ang’s life changed in an instant. A haemorrhagic stroke left him with aphasia, robbing him of his ability to speak or comprehend language. Once articulate, confident, and expressive, Terence suddenly found himself unable to do what he had always taken for granted — communicate.
But even in the silence, he was not alone. His sister Angela, brother-in-law Yew Teck, and his partner stood by him through the confusion and emotional darkness. Alongside them were doctors, therapists, and friends, each helping him slowly piece life back together.
Recovery was far more than physical. It was mental, emotional, and deeply personal. Every word relearned and every step taken was a victory.
A year after the stroke, Terence began to write — tentatively at first, but then with greater purpose. Through writing, he unlocked not only healing but also a calling: to speak for others who could not, and to show that recovery after stroke does not end in the hospital. It begins there.
Since then, Terence has published five books that document the stroke journey from multiple perspectives — survivors, caregivers, loved ones, family members, friends, and fellow fighters. His works include:
• A Cry in the Dark — a personal account of confusion, frustration and rebuilding
• Emerging from the Dark — stories of other stroke survivors and caregivers
• Strength in Motion — a powerful reminder that healing is a journey of body, mind, and spirit: physical, mental, emotional and transformative
• The Boy and the Man — a graphic novel that reimagines his stroke journey through a child’s eyes
• Thunderstroke — a poetry memoir that shows vulnerability is not weakness but the seed of strength
His books have won international awards, appeared on Times Square billboards and touched readers around the world. But what matters most to Terence is not recognition — it is impact.
That is why, for SOFS 2025, Terence is giving back.
In honour of the event’s 10th anniversary, he will be gifting a free digital version of Thunderstroke to his giving sg campaign donors available in both English and Chinese.
This is Terence’s way of walking alongside others in their recovery journey, just as so many once walked with him.
Recovery is the first step. Reintegration is the journey. Terence is living proof it is worth taking.
Register for SOFS 2025 here: www.snsa.org.sg/sofs2025
Donate and support Terence campaign: http://www.giving.sg/.../every-step-counts-a...
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