After six months of small turns and tests, 70-year-old John suffered a stroke in 2014 and was told by doctors he would be bedridden for life.
John said he spent months in Shenton Park Rehabilitation Centre before being moved to Fiona Stanley Hospital where he took part in lots of physiotherapy, determined to meet his goals.
“They drained the blood out of my brain,” he said.
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READ NOW“I was put on 30 tablets a day and a drip too.
“My whole left side was affected by the stroke, my leg, arm, vision and neck.
“I had to do vision tests and learn to read properly again and my voice has come back now. Before this stroke I’d never had an illness in my life.”
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But John said he had a clear goal to get back on his feet.
“Therapists always asked what I wanted to achieve and I said it was to get out of my chair and walk,” he said.
“They kept telling me my chances were slim but I said don’t tell me I can’t walk.”
With rehabilitation and support from the Rise Community Network, John said he now had a sunny outlook on life and was determined to keep pushing the boundaries.
“I’m down to three tablets a day,” he said.
“I can get my hand straight and it doesn’t hurt.
“I’m up to 100m of walking with the aid of a stick and I’m standing much straighter, I used to stoop and my son called me a turtle.
“I can just about touch my toes and I’m determined to get my shoes on so I can walk by myself.
“My favourite saying is ‘if you don’t use it you lose it’.”
Rise Community Network aged care co-ordinator Karen Wittcomb said John was an inspiration to many.
“John is so positive and determined,” she said. “He’s come a long way since we first met him and all the staff at our respite home Milperra are proud of what he has accomplished,” she said.