He was a young boy with a simple yet painful dream; to speak clearly and be understood.

Moishy was a late talker. When he finally began talking, it was with a bad stutter. While it bothered us tremendously, it did not come as a surprise as stuttering runs in our family.

When Moishy was four, we began trying homeopathic remedies that friends and relatives recommended. No results.

When he was six, we started a behavioral treatment program for children who stutter. The therapy center was far away. Yet we made the wearisome trip, week in, week out. It made a smidgen of a difference. Not enough.

We visited numerous speech-language pathologists, before taking the road less traveled with alternative therapy. The therapist urged Moishy to conjure up his hardest moments. Moishy grew agitated. Lots of money. Lots of pain. No change.

When Moishy was ten, we tried a voice specialist. The tests came back perfect—there was nothing wrong with his voice.

When he was fourteen, he went to a renowned therapist who worked with him on breathing techniques and anxiety over his stutter. Moishy cried a lot to the therapist. I must admit, he picked up on my own anxiety and that hurt him. But what was I to do? I have a mother’s heart.

Moishy found the breathing techniques arduous. After a while, the therapist gave up on him. He gently told Moishy he didn’t think anyone would be able to help. That was a knife in Moishy’s heart.

Then my sister-in-law mentioned she’d heard about Yitzchok Weiss, a stuttering specialist. The treatment was costly. I was hesitant and a bit skeptical.

That summer, when Moishy called from camp, I could not understand a single word he said. That was a turning point.

At the time, I was pouring money into renovations. I thought, If I can spend a lot on my house, I can spend a lot on my son. I was ready to try Yitzchok Weiss.

Moishy was frustrated and hopeless, but eventually agreed to give it a go.

The week of Shabbos Nachamu, my husband and Moishy went to the appointment while I prayed for results.

Mr. Weiss asked a lot of questions and wrote down Moishy’s answers. He instructed Moishy to read some Tehillim out loud.

Once he nailed the core of the issue, he began treating it. He built Moishy’s confidence. He taught him to speak slowly and assured him it wouldn’t sound strange to others. Whenever Moishy would speak, he’d think about how he was speaking. It was a burden. Yitzchok taught him to speak normally, naturally, to focus on what he was saying rather than feel self-conscious about how he was saying it.

After three hours, they came out. Moishy was talking clearly. Moishy was talking clearly! We were beside ourselves.

It’s been two years since, and Moishy’s stutter is 95% gone. It makes a rare appearance when he‘s intimidated. He unearthed his confidence, which had been buried beneath his stutter.

He calls Yitzchok Weiss every Friday with a dvar Torah. On this call, he receives support and encouragement. The call also serves as a reminder to speak properly.

Moishy is warmer, happier, and more giving. His simple yet painful dream—to speak so others would understand him—has been fulfilled.

*Names and identifying details have been changed.