[RJSMuscle]

Back on March 11, 1995 at the young age of 30 I had a stroke. It was the biggest headache you could imagine. I was actually dead for a few minutes before they brought me back. A blood vessel in my brain leaked and that’s all it took. I was very lucky to have survived.

The first month I lived in the I.C.U at St Michael’s hospital in Toronto. I spent most of that time slipping in and out of coma. I was unable to breathe on my own so I was hooked to life support. One day I just came out of the coma and I was breathing on my own.

Then began the rehabilitation, the stroke hit the entire left side of my body and the right side of my face. I had to start ALL over again. The weakness in my body meant I had to learn to walk, talk and pretty much everything else we take for granted. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. My driver’s license was automatically suspended as a result.

Since then I have made a miraculous recovery. I quickly realized that life was extremely fragile and if I don’t take control of my health I won’t be so lucky next time. After learning the benefits to the Vegetarian diet I quickly changed my eating habits. I also began an aggressive exercise program to regain my strength. As a result I lost 80lbs and have never felt better. My eyesight is the only thing that keeps me from driving, but I plan on correcting this someday. I’ve come this far, I know I can do better.

It has been over 121/2 years since this happened to me and I still show a few signs that I’m not 100% recovered. The biggest visible sign is my right eye is a little cock eyed, I still see out of it but I can’t move it from side to side.

The disabilities I’ve had to live with have made me a much stronger person, both physically and mentally.