What If Dreams Really Do Come True?
- Pam Manser
- May 18
- 3 min read
My Journey: Turning a Dream into Reality
My love for my father runs deep. He was a quiet man, steady and strong—the kind of man whose presence alone made you feel safe.
When he had a stroke after cardiac surgery, everything changed. I remember being in the hospital room. I remember watching him try to speak, and the words just… wouldn’t come. And then I remember the speech therapist.
He wasn’t just working with my dad—he was reaching him. Patiently, gently, skillfully helping him reclaim his voice, one word at a time. I sat there in awe. Watching someone help bring my father back to us through something as seemingly simple—but profoundly human—as speech… it stirred something in me I couldn’t quite name then.
But I grew to know it.
Envisioning My Private Practice
That was the moment I chose my life's work and determined the direction it would take. As I envisioned building a private practice in speech pathology, I thought of my father and of the countless families like mine who had loved ones needing speech therapy. I aimed to establish a practice that provided a method for growth and development in children, recovery and healing in adults.
The practice would recognize the diverse needs of individuals at different stages of life and would be encompassed in a warm and welcoming environment. All who were served would be treated with respect and honor, regardless of age or station.
The goal would be to empower individuals to take charge of their healing journeys, equipping them with the tools necessary to navigate life's complexities and to open a world of possibilities in every person served.
What If...?
As I explored this vision, I began to ask myself a series of "What if's".
Each "What if...?" served as a stepping stone, leading me to new insights and perspectives.
Each "What if...?" helped me to know how I wanted people to feel when I greeted them in their homes or their hospital rooms, or when they walked through my door.
What if I could create a compassionate and empathetic environment that feels like home, making clients of all ages feel protected and comfortable?
What if I could provide a professional home for other therapists that, above all, makes them feel safe, secure, supported, accepted and respected?
What if I could integrate speech and occupational therapy in a complimentary way that addresses the unique needs of each individual, regardless of their age, to truly meet them where they are and help them move forward?
What if I could collaborate with other professionals, such as physicians, psychologists and educators, to provide comprehensive care that extends beyond therapy sessions?
What if I could incorporate family involvement and empower families to support their loved ones on their therapy journeys,
What if I could offer workshops, resources and counseling that educate clients and families about development and rehabilitation?
A Comprehensive Approach
By contemplating these "What if..." scenarios, I realized the potential of not only treating patients in the hospital setting, but creating a clinic setting where speech and occupational therapy could come together. This would not only address the unique needs of pediatric and adult clients alike, but also help them develop and restore not just function, but also dignity, confidence, and possibility. Each "What if..." became a stepping stone toward realizing my dream of a private practice that truly serves the community.
In Closing...
It's a beautiful spring here in North Carolina. The trees are alive with color - soft pinks and whites bursting into bloom, a reminder of renewal, yet of time's steady passage. The warmth of the sun, the fragrance of flowers blooming - it all fills me with something familiar, something deeply good.....and happiness.
Spring reminds us that with every bloom comes the potential for transformation. Much like the feeling I get when I reflect on this journey. Nearly 30 years now in this practice. Forty-five in the field of speech pathology. And even after all this time, that same feeling - that sense of purpose, of possibility, of happiness - still stirs in me.
Because this career - this life's work - was never just a job to me. It was a promise I made a long time ago to a man I will always love; my father.
In case you haven't yet watched or want to see it again, here is the metaphoric video symbolically capturing my journey that to attempts to answer the proverbial question - What if dreams really do come true?
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