y.p.'s story

• Age: 83
• Retired printer
• Active line dancer – instructor and performer
• Suffered a right-brain stroke in January 2010
• Outpatient since February 2010

I was a different person after my stroke. Thanks to St. John's Rehab, I'm back."

Y.P. was in step with an active retired life. The independent 83-year-old taught community line dancing classes and brushed up on his own skills by taking 10 classes a week. In an instant, the music stopped when Y.P. suddenly suffered a stroke.

Y.P. recalls very little of what happened after the ambulance arrived. Once he regained consciousness three days later, he knew right away that he wasn't the same person. The stroke attacked the right side of his brain, robbing him of his balance, his ability to dance and even the very basic functions of living. "I wasn't even able to do simple things like sit on my own, stand or swallow my own food," he says.

After spending over a month in an acute care hospital, Y.P. arrived as an outpatient at St. John's Rehab Hospital to regain his independence and his balance. Working with an occupational therapist, he practised fine-tuning his muscles to help him do day-to-day tasks such as writing and using chopsticks to eat. Y.P.'s physiotherapy was customized to his specific needs. He practised simple line dancing movements using parallel bars, and participated in exercises such as maneuvering through a simple obstacle course to strengthen his lower extremities.

Today, Y.P. can do the basic things he once took for granted. He can sign his own name again. He hasn't resorted to using a fork. His biggest accomplishment: he has returned to his classes and dances the night away.