In October 2018, the 35-year-old “Child In The Universe” singer underwent surgery to remove a salivary gland, but woke up to discover her tongue was paralysed. With the nerve to her tongue cut off from the brain, she found herself struggling to speak, slurring her words and feeling immensely frustrated and powerless at her situation.
“This sucks,” she said at the time. “I don’t want to go out, I’m super embarrassed. I’m just over it, over it. Just trying to stay positive.”
“My livelihood is my sound, just trying to decide whether this is getting better or not doesn’t feel like it.”
Goodrem went into months of rehabilitation with daily speech therapy, showing her progress over a six minute long Instagram video. And, during her recovery, she worked on her sixth album and single, “Paralyzed.”
“They said it would take a year and it has,” Goodrem admitted. “I don’t think it’s going to ever be as what it as before [but] there’s people who go through a lot, a lot, lot, lot worse.”
“Can speak now, won’t shut up!”
“You never know what someone is going through in life,” a message read at the end of the clip. “In 2020, everyone has a story and is going through something.”“Ask people around you, even the strong ones, if they are ok. Be kind, be patient. Stay strong and be positive.”
“My deepest love and respect for my doctor and to all the doctors and nurses at St. Vincent’s. We are all behind you and all healthcare workers everywhere in the current fight.”
You can watch the full story in the video below.
