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Stroke Patient on His Way to Karate Black Belt
Stroke Patient on His Way to Karate Black Belt
Following a severe stroke at just 17 months
old, Jacob Flanagan backpedalled from being a strong baby
beginning to walk and talk to “being just like a newborn
again” all in a matter of minutes.
With more than a decade of support from Waikato District Health Board’s Child Development Centre (CDC), Jacob is today a confident and healthy 13-year-old with the viable dream of reaching his black-belt in karate.
“A stroke is very rare in one so young,” said his mum Fiona Hermann.
“As a parent, that’s terrifying. I asked: what was it like for my baby to go through that? Will I ever go to work again? How will it affect our family? What if he has another stroke and dies?” she said.
Since then, staff at CDC have worked with Jacob at varying regularity to build his strength and help him talk and walk again.
Neurodevelopmental therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists have been among those to befriend and provide services to Jacob and family.
“Our main focus with Jacob over the years has been providing input to maximise his gross motor skills potential. His main area of difficulty sustained as a result of the stroke was around the function of his right lower leg,” CDC senior physiotherapist Karli Joll said.
“Following surgery, years of prescribed exercises and the use of a splint for his lower leg, he continues to function very highly with an excellent gait pattern and participates in a wide variety of physical activities such as soccer and karate,” she said.
Jacob has bounced back as an intelligent and intellectually unaffected young man who “won’t let anything beat him”. So much so, he won the equivalent of Dux at his school.
The only telltale stroke signs now are his limp, barely noticeable lisp and a slightly weaker right hand when compared to his left.
“The CDC staff have been really helpful and have had a huge effect. They have made me a lot stronger and are always really cheerful,” Jacob said.
“I have been encouraged to play sports and do things that I want to do. Just like the other kids. I have an orange belt in karate and I want to get my black belt,” he said.
Mrs Hermann says she owes a great deal to CDC.
“We can’t stress how great they have been. They have provided anything and everything we’ve needed. The atmosphere at CDC is the perfect mix of fun and professional.”
Staff at CDC speak equally passionately about their role.
“All bits of our job are rewarding. Jacob is an amazing kid and being able to share in a patient's journey through childhood, such as Jacob's, is really the ultimate privilege.”
And the message Jacob gives to other kids pushing through similar challenges is largely inspired by the support he’s received from family and CDC.
“Don’t let these things affect you – go for the things you want to do. You can definitely do it.”
CDC caters for children and young people in the Waikato District Health Board area from birth to 15 years who have developmental delays or problems. For more information, click here.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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