Not only does Wayne Ackerly plan to walk again, he plans to go fishing again as well.
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The George Town man suffered a massive stroke in November last year, and spent nearly a month in the Launceston General Hospital before moving into the John L Grove rehabilitation centre in December.
Mr Ackerly and his wife Helen were told he probably wouldn't walk again, and it looked as though he may not even be able to go home.
But he beat the odds and is walking with assistance now. At this stage, it looks like he'll be able to go home in around two weeks.
“He’ll beat it, he said, right from the word go,” Mrs Ackerly said. “He’s been really determined and worked really hard.
“They are just so marvellous here. We can’t speak highly enough of what they have done for us - for Wayne especially.”
Mr Ackerly said walking again was “just such a wonderful thing”.
“The physios are miracle workers.”
The state government announced on Thursday that $20 million would be allocated to the specialist rehabilitation centre in the upcoming budget.
As well as the four-year budget announcement, the government said it would fund John L Grove into the future.
When Mr Ackerly had his stroke while eating dinner on November 23 last year, it affected the whole left side of his body.
He lost his left field vision as well as the use of his left arm and leg. “A lot of hard work brought [the use of my leg] back,” he said.
“I’m planning to go fishing again,” he said when asked if he would walk again. “And I’m planning to walk into a pub and order a pint of beer.”
Mrs Ackerly said it had been a long journey since her husband had his stroke.
“They are miracle workers here really, because to get him going, and even at the beginning, I thought, ‘is this ever going to happen’?
“It did take a long time, but that’s the beauty of this - they just keep working day in, day out.
“In about six months, they’re thinking he’ll possibly be walking on his own.”
In its first major 2017-18 budget announcement, the state government pledged $20 million to fund the 20-bed slow-to-recover rehabilitation unit over the next four years, as well as committing to its ongoing funding. The centre is part of the LGH, but operates separately from the hospital, providing low-to-medium density therapy.
“With the budget back on track, we are able to invest in these important services and as we foreshadowed in 2015, we can now welcome John L Grove back into our statewide health system,” Health Minister Michael Ferguson said.