John's recovery story

At 15, John suffered a massive stroke, leaving him blind and paralysed. Forty-five years later, he’s still proving that recovery has no time limit. This is his story...

"Today marks the 45th anniversary of my massive stroke s a 15-year-old on December 9, 2024.

My stroke was caused by an extra cervical rib in the right side of my chest, causing five blood clots in the right hemisphere of my brain to nudge the left brain hemisphere over by 1/4 inch. That alone should have killed me instantly and I was initially left partially blind with tunnel vision and was completely paralysed on the left side of my body.

For decades I have worked with doctors, therapists and researchers from around the world as we prove that recovery is not limited to within six months of a stroke.

I have long told my fellow stroke survivors that if you try to get recover and get stronger, you MIGHT but if you don't try to recover and recover that you absolutely won't. I damn-well reuse to quit fighting!"