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Yes! Nathan successfully walked his goal of 2.5km and didn’t require the assistance vehicle. He was supported by his family, friends, therapists and unit who walked right behind him for the whole walk. We appreciate the ongoing support we’ve received.

The 5km fun run/walk was held last Friday at RAAF Base Edinburgh. It was held during the National Stroke week to help raise awareness of stroke amongst our community. Thanks to all those who helped organise and plan for the day. We had such lovely weather for the day and there was such a large turn out of runners and walkers. We were both surprised by the amount of support we’ve received prior to the event and on the day. Hopefully, Steps for Stroke will be an annual fun run/walk event on base as it is a cause very close to our hearts and Nathan is still on the long road to recovery.

As of today, we have raised just under $9000! Nearly double our initial goal! The funds raised will go directly to the Brain Foundation who fund Australian research into stroke treatments. We hope that with further research, a cure for stroke can be found. A huge thank you to family, friends, the Defence community and supporters who have donated to help us raise this awesome amount! We wouldn’t be able to achieve our goals of raising awareness of stroke and fundraising for a cause dear to our hearts, without your ongoing support.

Following the event, we have been fortunate to be able to share our story with a few media outlets. Nathan was featured in Channel Ten News for a story on stroke and stroke research. We have been interviewed by a local newspaper and magazine and hope these articles help raise more awareness about stroke, in particular among young adults.

As a young newly wed couple, we were following our dreams of travelling around the world together, sampling foreign cuisines, hiking through countrysides and driving on open roads throughout the world. We had plans to travel to the UK and surrounding European countries over Christmas last year. These plans came to a grounding halt when Nathan’s injury happened. We cancelled previously booked flights, we stopped looking at travel destinations and focused on his health and recovery. Travelling overseas was out of the picture. Travelling around the city was an obstacle in itself.

We’ve had to put our dreams on hold for an undetermined period. It’s not for forever, but it’s hard to put a date on when exactly we’ll be able to get back into travelling overseas. After a stroke, or any type of disability, detailed planning and preparation is required for travelling. There are medical conditions to take into consider, which medical equipment might be needed, what transport to take, medications, additional clothing and how to transport it all whilst pushing a wheelchair.

We have travelled domestically with Qantas so we’re familiar with how they operate. Researching for flights for stroke survivors or those with any sort of disability, we found that Qantas has provided a lot of helpful information on their website. They also offer a carer concession card for individuals who require assistance during the flight. You can apply for one here. Qantas allow those with special needs to call up and speak to someone directly to book flights, allowing us to comfortably explain our situation and requirements and in our experience they have been more than accommodating e.g. requesting aisle seat, wheelchair requirements etc.

The whole process from arriving at Adelaide airport to getting picked up from Sydney airport went very smoothly. I can’t thank the Qantas staff enough for their attention to detail and service. They assisted us with check in, boarding the plane, seating and exiting the aircraft. The small things made all the difference, such as checking up on Nathan throughout the flight and getting his wheelchair delivered to the aircraft door . They made our first flight a worry free affair.

Following a stroke or brain injury, patients are usually seen by a physiotherapist whilst at hospital, rehabilitation centre or referred onto other services. Nathan was initially seen by the physio for assessment upon entering the hospital system and continued after he awoke from his coma whilst in the stroke ward. Being hemiplegic, his physio routine initially consisted of small amounts of mobility e.g. trying to sit up and stand. Getting up and walking about wasn’t considered due to the extent of his injuries. In the early days following his stroke, his mobility was restricted to a wheelchair.

Since those early days, Nathan has devoted his time and energy into recovering, whilst at the hospital, rehabilitation centre and at home. His focus has never wavered since his injury, with his main goals to learn to how to walk again and gain function back in his dominant arm and hand and return back to work.

Whilst at BIRU and BIRCH at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, Nathan has undertaken intensive sessions of physio and OT to achieve his goals. This includes a variety of rehab activities:

Hydrotherapy – Resistance exercises in the water, allowing stroke patients with balance or strength issues to exercise
Lokomat – Intensive robotic gait retraining in an exoskeleton
Saeboglove – Assisted finger extension orthotic
Functional electrical stimulation – Preventing atrophy, building strength and keeping muscles active
Massager – Applies vibration to the weakened muscles to assist with activation
GRASP box program – Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program, an arm and hand exercise program
ableX – Sensor based computer and therapy games based upper limb therapy device
Bioness glove – Applies low-level electrical stimulation to activate the nerves that control the muscles in the hand and arm
PABLO – Sensor based computer therapy hand and arm rehab device
OT exercises – Hand, finger and arm exercises
Physio exercises – Focusing on muscle strengthening e.g. sit ups, squats, calf raises

(As with all physical/ exercise programs, please consult your doctor and physiotherapist to determine what is best suited for your health and needs.)

Nathan has achieved an enormous amount within the past year. He has regained movement in his leg, progressing from a powered wheelchair, to a manual wheelchair, then a quad stick and now single point stick. He has regained some gross motor movement in his shoulder, arm and hand. We were initially told that he would not be likely to walk or regain any movement in his arm. Despite this, he continues to push himself everyday to achieve his goals.

Things have been changing. It is inevitable.

Since my last blog post, Nathan and I have been through a whirlwind of emotions. Some expected, some unexpected.

Shortly after his one year incident anniversary (do you call it an anniversary?), Nathan unfortunately had another seizure. This was totally unexpected and a total shock to both of us as everything had been going so well for him. His recovery from surgery was going well. He has been improving through continued rehab. But this seizure was a giant kick in the guts. It was a harsh wake up call that things in life can change in an instant. It was also a reminder that we need to be aware that seizures can happen after a stroke and to know what to do in the situation.

Despite Nathan’s medical ordeal, he has bounced back quite well and continues to push himself in rehab. Nathan finished up at BIRCH earlier this month and has slowly been transitioning to private rehab providers. He is attending Libby Bamford Neurophysiology and NeuroMoves for physio, gym and hydrotherapy sessions. He is attending One Rehabilitation Service for occupational therapy and speech pathology. He will continue to see a psychologist and PhysioXtra for Lokomat sessions.

We have been fortunate to trial a number of rehab devices through his time at BIRU and BIRCH. ableX Healthcare have provdied us with the ableX system to trial at home. It consists of a controller, handlebar and armskate that connect to a computer or laptop, the user can play various games by moving their affected arm (with support from their unaffected arm if needed). We love having the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals or organisations who are passionate about stroke and brain injury rehab recovery.

Also, with friends and family popping over to say hello, we’ve been forced out of the house and out into the real world. It has lined up well with Nathan’s transition from BIRCH to separate providers. We need to learn how to adapt to new situations, like unpredictable weather, unknown terrain, navigating through shopping centres or car parks and even other smaller things we take for granted.

With these new changes, we’re still adapting to new routines and lifestyle. I hope that we will see continued recovery with these new providers. We were initially told that most of the recovery for stroke survivors happens in the first 6 to 12 months and plateau after that. However we have spoken to a number of stroke survivors who continue to improve years down the track. Studies of neuroplasticity and the brain are still in it’s infancy. I hope Nathan can show everyone that recovery can still happen with the right level of determination, effort and support.

Nathan has achieved a major milestone on Friday. It was an amazing feeling to complete a hiking trail after what he’s gone through since his injury. To be honest, I didn’t think we’d ever get to this stage. From wheelchair and bed bound, to being able to operate on two feet. From taking a few steps to and from his hospital bed, to being able to walk a 2km round trip. This is progress in the right direction!

We’ve always been an adventure and travel seeking couple. Just last year, we were hiking in Japan’s southern island of Yakushima. We’ve been fortunate enough to travel around New Zealand, Vietnam and all over Australia and taken the opportunity to do spur of the moment day hikes in those locations.

Now, it’s a little different. More preparation and planning is required. Suitable footwear and adaptive equipment is needed. A foot brace on the left foot and a walking stick in the right hand does the trick. Back up support is essential, especially on unusual or uneven terrain. Wet weather throws up more challenges too. Each step is tiring and we can’t go as far as we’d like to, but it’s a step towards getting back to how things were.

With more walks, comes more goals. We hope that recovery continues, so that we can do as we had originally planned. We’ve always wanted to travel to far away countries and drive and hike our way through the countryside. It’s been a slow and steady 12 months of rehabilitation, and it looks like further recovery will happen, so it’s more of a question of how much and how long?

– Kerrie

One of these is something I wished I had received, the other two were what happened instead.

After an ischemic stroke such as my own, the most effective and preferred treatment is thrombolysis. This involves the IV delivery of clot-busting drugs to break up the blood clot and minimise brain tissue damage. However, thrombolysis needs to be administered within 4 hours to be effective and, unfortunately, in my case it was too late. As such, I suffered a massive degree of damage from my stroke and my brain began swelling.

To relieve pressure, neurosurgeons conducted a hemicraniectomy. After 3 weeks in hospital to recover from the surgery, I was transferred to rehab at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre. During this time, I had to wear a protective blue helmet while mobilising and undergoing rehab. This was a royal pain in the arse. I also had to avoid putting any pressure on the right side of my head when sleeping.

Several months after the stroke, I underwent an own bone cranioplasty. However, due to an infection during the operation, it had to be removed again the week after. After a 6 month course of antibiotics, I underwent another cranioplasty using an acrylic graft. This last surgery was successful and I now have a structurally sound skull once more.

-Nathan