
Patient Colin Wake is belting out his favourite songs, despite suffering a stroke in January.
Colin, 81, from Stockton, was treated for a stroke at the University Hospital of North Tees. While undergoing intensive speech and physical therapy, Colin spent hours every day on a karaoke app singing as a fun method of speech therapy – the songs of megastar Tom Jones being a particular favourite.
A stroke won’t stop Colin singing
[Caption] Stroke patient Colin Wake is singing as part of his therapy. Colin 81 says he sings from his heart and it makes him ‘feel magic’. He has always sung for his wife.
[Colin singing] Why, why Delilah! So before they come to break down the door. Forgive me Delilah, I just couldn’t take any more! [Music ends]
I sing to my wife all the time! It’s from the heart. It’s from the heart!
[off camera voice] is it making you feel better?
[Caption] Physiotherapist James King. Colin struggles to speak since his stroke and has regular speech therapy. James encourages Colin’s singing – it’s an enjoyable, relaxing way for Colin to get some extra speech therapy and and to have some much needed fun.
[Colin] it’s magic, it’s magic! You can’t feel any better than enjoying singing.
[James King] So, my name is James King and I’m a physiotherapist on world 41 at North Tees Hospital. Colin has come in with a stroke and he’s got a dysphasia so he struggles to pronounce his words and he has some slurring of his speech. So things like singing and reading poems that he does help him to pronounce his words and get that practice in alongside there’s 45 minutes of speech and language therapy that he gets every day as well. So with his singing and things it’s a lot more enjoyable for him because he’s told us that he’s like singing and sings to his wife a lot and so we’ve integrated that into his therapy. And then the nursing staff and the therapy staff have been singing with him and doing karaoke and then that leaves sort of the more in-depth things for the speech and language therapists to
to do as well.
[Colin singing] Forgive me Delilah, I just couldn’t take anymore. Forgive me Delilah i just couldn’t say it anymore!
[Caption] Nothing will stop Colin singing his favourite songs!
[Applause]
Colin says he sings ‘from the heart’ and it makes him feel ‘magic’. Becoming emotional when he speaks of his love of singing to his wife Ann, Colin is a long-time lover of music, especially going to shows and enjoying karaoke nights.
Enjoyable
Physiotherapist James King encourages Colin’s singing as an enjoyable, relaxing way for Colin to get some extra speech therapy and to have some much-needed fun while in hospital.
James said: “Colin has dysphasia so he struggles to pronounce his words and slurs his speech. Singing and reading poetry helps him to pronounce his words and get in some extra practice alongside the speech and language therapy he receives every day.
“Singing is a lot more enjoyable for him so we integrated it into his therapy. The physios and nurses have joined in more than a few times!”

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust wishes Colin, who has now been discharged home and is recuperating with the help of Ann and their family, a full and swift recovery.