I would like to thank all of those who have been in touch with me and my family over the last few months since my stroke. The emails, phone calls, letters, cards, personal visits, and gifts which flowed into our family were overwhelming.
In December I had what now appears to have been a brain seizure. This was followed some months later by three TIA’s (mini strokes). Then I had a stroke and after superb diagnosis at Christchurch Hospital I was admitted to Burwood Hospital. I was unable to stand or walk.
I was at Burwood 10 minutes before a physio appeared and encouraged me to stand up. He supplied a walking frame, and I commenced a journey to restore my ability to walk again.
The stroke ward at Burwood Hospital is run in an impressively egalitarian manner. I will not mention anybody’s name as I’m sure to miss somebody important out. Suffice to say that the teamwork by everybody in the Ward was impressive, and without this style of working rehabilitation would be much more difficult.
The essence of recovery after a stroke is focusing on reprogramming the brain. It is essential to be on the correct pills, but the role of Physios and Occupational Therapists is to encourage this reprogramming through repetitive exercises and training. Other parts of the brain takeover from the blood vessel which burst causing the stroke in my case. The exercise regime occurs for hour after hour after hour. So, for 4 to 5 hours per day, for 5 days a week, I was in the gymnasium alongside other stroke victims. Between challenging gymnastic exercises I’d collapse on my bed to build up my energy for the next gym session. This regime continued for a month.
One thing I have decided is that knowledge on the brain and how it functions and restores itself is an exciting new territory.
At the end of a month, I walked out of Burwood Hospital. This was only possible because of the world class support which is available to us in Christchurch and the committed brilliant health professionals working within it.
I cannot praise the support structure i received from the time I entered the public system to when I left. A community physio visits me regularly and gives me more exercises to continue my rehabilitation. When I left the hospital, my left arm was given a rating of zero out of 5. Last week the physio scored it three out of five. This was only possible because of thousands of exercises challenging my left arm and hand to start functioning again.
As somebody who has had boundless energy all my life, having a stroke has been a wakeup call. The support structure I have experienced encouraging me to stand up again, and to continue to function as a member of our society, has been amazing. Alongside the health support system has been my extraordinary loving wife Pam, my whanau, as well as enormous community support to me and the family. To you all, a big thank you.
This short summary of my health journey is me saying thank you to you all. I’ve been given an opportunity to continue living and to contribute to my whanau, and our society, for a bit longer. I promise not to waste the time I have left.
In the next notes for the Tuesday Club, I will be addressing a challenge for us all to contemplate on how we need to change fundamental ways our society is functioning. More about that next time.
Comments
Vicki Brethertonsays
Thanks for sharing your story. Arohas to you and your great family Garry
That’s the spirit Gary. What a positive person and message. I have had heart stents and a heart ablation so know what it’s like to experience a near death moment. What doesn’t kill you certainly does make you stronger, but also wiser, more empathetic and grateful for what you have, family being at the core of that. Look forward to a Tuesday session and a beer soon! Take care.
I worked at Burwood Hospital with Ranga Hauora the Māori Support Service and was always impressed by the way the Occupational Therapists and the Physiotherapists worked with the patients and your story is a celebration of their skills and a celebration of your love of life.
Arohanui to you and yours.
Dear Gary,
I am travelling with my daughter in the Greek Islands, sharing precious times and memories of my backpacking days in the late 70’s as I read this.
I’ve been wondering how you are, and am very very happy to read of your recovery and ongoing recovery.
I won’t be the only one who has missed you!
Keep up the wonderful and very hard work!
Such a welcome update and positive journey after such a string of challenges that sadly affect so many without apparent cause or reason. Kia Kaha and I look forwards to further updates.
We are all so grateful that Garry has made a remarkable recovery after a very challenging set of events. He will continue to share his special brand of positivity and support to a very lucky Community. Kia Kaha Garry…hope to have the opportunity to say ‘hi’ very soon.
Kia ora Garry,
Great to hear you are back on your feet again and energized to continue contributing to the huge challenge of trying to build a better world.
Keep up the good work, both regarding your ongoing recovery and your inspirational leadership.
Kia kaha. John
Agreat testimony to your spirit Gary and as well the collective of the medical teams. Proves we have capable professionals but our news portrays a system in disarray. Pity it is underresourced.
Great to have you back on deck. It took slightly longer than three days, but still an impressive recovery. It goes against the grain, but listen to nurse and follow instructions.
Hi Garry
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I hadn’t realized how serious your stroke was. You’re an inspiration to anyone facing a major health challenge. I had similarly fantastic care in the public health system when I had almost complete kidney failure a couple of years ago.
All the best.
David
Thank you for your family’s support and encouragement for Vic after her recent stroke and thank you, for you and Pam visiting Vic at Burwood. Vic came home for the weekend and is walking with a frame and her left arm is improving. The staff at Burwood are amazing and we owe them everything for her recovery ! So a big thank you to every one at Burwood Hospital for the vital work that they do, we are very lucky to have this facility helping to rebuild peoples lives. all the best on the way forward. Lindsay Hill and Vic Tutton.
Kia Kaha Garry. Good to hear that you are listening to Pam and the whanau. You have had a wonderful experience of the great team at Burwood who turn this on every hour of every day 365 days a year despite the challenges and political rhetoric. Ordinary humble folk doing extraordinary work that directly benefits real people the stuff you have championed for years….. Keep up the hard work, the exercise and the listening and your brain will be soon reprogrammed, your limbs obeying all orders as required and the Garry we know and love will be back on deck albeit a bit more battered, wiser and older.
I have been inspired by your recovery story, just as I have been inspired by the wonderful speakers you have organised for us at the Tuesday Club over the years. Sharing stories is an important part of building community, especially when they acknowledge everyone in the “village” who collaborate to make society a better place.
I thank you for being a taonga for those of us who truly believe that a better, fairer, more inclusive society is possible. I look forward to reading your next newsletter. All the best with your recovery.
Bravo Garry, and all strength to you (and Pam). Keep the effort up. Being away in the NI I missed some of this….but know the fight must be on going.
Keep going and keep healthy.
Thanks for sharing your story. Arohas to you and your great family Garry
That’s the spirit Gary. What a positive person and message. I have had heart stents and a heart ablation so know what it’s like to experience a near death moment. What doesn’t kill you certainly does make you stronger, but also wiser, more empathetic and grateful for what you have, family being at the core of that. Look forward to a Tuesday session and a beer soon! Take care.
I worked at Burwood Hospital with Ranga Hauora the Māori Support Service and was always impressed by the way the Occupational Therapists and the Physiotherapists worked with the patients and your story is a celebration of their skills and a celebration of your love of life.
Arohanui to you and yours.
Hi Garry So great to hear the story of your progress. Keep up the extremely hard work. You are an inspiration.
Well done Garry, keep it up.
Dear Gary,
I am travelling with my daughter in the Greek Islands, sharing precious times and memories of my backpacking days in the late 70’s as I read this.
I’ve been wondering how you are, and am very very happy to read of your recovery and ongoing recovery.
I won’t be the only one who has missed you!
Keep up the wonderful and very hard work!
Lesley .
Hi Garry, so pleased you are getting better. Well done! Kia kaha.
Margreet
Such a welcome update and positive journey after such a string of challenges that sadly affect so many without apparent cause or reason. Kia Kaha and I look forwards to further updates.
We are all so grateful that Garry has made a remarkable recovery after a very challenging set of events. He will continue to share his special brand of positivity and support to a very lucky Community. Kia Kaha Garry…hope to have the opportunity to say ‘hi’ very soon.
Kia ora Garry,
Great to hear you are back on your feet again and energized to continue contributing to the huge challenge of trying to build a better world.
Keep up the good work, both regarding your ongoing recovery and your inspirational leadership.
Kia kaha. John
Well done Garry.
Continue to listen to Pam!
Kia Kaha!
Agreat testimony to your spirit Gary and as well the collective of the medical teams. Proves we have capable professionals but our news portrays a system in disarray. Pity it is underresourced.
Great to hear you’re on the mend, Garry! Sending love to you, Pam and the rest of the family.
Great to hear you are on the mend Garry. The world is a far richer and more interesting place with you in it, so do hang around…
Great to have you back in action, Garry. Good luck with the continuing recovery. Andy
Great to have you back on deck. It took slightly longer than three days, but still an impressive recovery. It goes against the grain, but listen to nurse and follow instructions.
Hi Garry
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I hadn’t realized how serious your stroke was. You’re an inspiration to anyone facing a major health challenge. I had similarly fantastic care in the public health system when I had almost complete kidney failure a couple of years ago.
All the best.
David
Thank you for your family’s support and encouragement for Vic after her recent stroke and thank you, for you and Pam visiting Vic at Burwood. Vic came home for the weekend and is walking with a frame and her left arm is improving. The staff at Burwood are amazing and we owe them everything for her recovery ! So a big thank you to every one at Burwood Hospital for the vital work that they do, we are very lucky to have this facility helping to rebuild peoples lives. all the best on the way forward. Lindsay Hill and Vic Tutton.
Kia Kaha Garry. Good to hear that you are listening to Pam and the whanau. You have had a wonderful experience of the great team at Burwood who turn this on every hour of every day 365 days a year despite the challenges and political rhetoric. Ordinary humble folk doing extraordinary work that directly benefits real people the stuff you have championed for years….. Keep up the hard work, the exercise and the listening and your brain will be soon reprogrammed, your limbs obeying all orders as required and the Garry we know and love will be back on deck albeit a bit more battered, wiser and older.
Dave .
So good to read this, onwards and upwards Garry!
Great to read of your recovery journey and that you’re back in the saddle, so to speak. Can’t keep a good bas**rd down eh?
All I can say is ‘yay’ so I’ll repeat such poetry…’yay’
Carol
Kia ora Garry and so sorry about your recent health challenges but lovely to hear of your continuing recovery. All power to you.
I have been inspired by your recovery story, just as I have been inspired by the wonderful speakers you have organised for us at the Tuesday Club over the years. Sharing stories is an important part of building community, especially when they acknowledge everyone in the “village” who collaborate to make society a better place.
I thank you for being a taonga for those of us who truly believe that a better, fairer, more inclusive society is possible. I look forward to reading your next newsletter. All the best with your recovery.
What tenacity and guts Gary! You are an example to all. Well done. Huge admiration, and thank you for your heartfelt, open journey.
Bravo Garry, and all strength to you (and Pam). Keep the effort up. Being away in the NI I missed some of this….but know the fight must be on going.
Keep going and keep healthy.