Sometimes being a hero can simply mean taking the time to educate others, and one Bay area couple is doing exactly that.
The world changed for Mike Caputo and his wife, Kathy, in 2009. That was the day Caputo, who had been a successful businessman, suffered a stroke.
Mike now suffers from a disorder called aphasia, which can sometimes follow a stroke or a brain injury. With aphasia, your mind is intact and you are still you, but communicating that is a major challenge.
"Everything's good here, but not, not speech," Mike said.
When they realized they were not alone with this little-known disorder, Mike and Kathy began Voices of Hope for Aphasia.
- MORE INFO: Learn more about Voices of Hope for Aphasia by going to vohaphasia.org
Rebuilding self-esteem, improving communication skills and educating the public are some of the goals of the organization, which also holds several weekly meetings for people who are dealing with aphasia.
"Mike and I will go to universities and Mike will speak to graduate students for speech pathology so that they see the real deal," Kathy said.
If you ask Mike how helping others fight this battle makes him feel, his answer is perfectly clear.
"It's proud," he said. "Happy."
- EVERYDAY HERO: Do you know an Everyday Hero? Send us your nomination and we may profile them.