In April 2022, 40-year-old Manoj had recently been promoted to associate director of a consultancy firm, but nothing prepared him for how his life was about to change overnight. Following a standard day of playing cricket and an evening at home with his young family, he had a severe stroke in his sleep. When he awoke, he faced a completely new reality: he was left with paralysis on his upper right side and significant challenges with speech. After medical intervention and coming out of a coma, he was looking at a rehabilitation journey of inpatient care, home-based rehab and ongoing therapy support.

Initially, Manoj’s right hand was entirely non-functional – unable to even shake hands with his clinician – and due to Aphasia, his speech was limited to single words at a time rather than full sentences. With a young son and daughter at school age, Manoj looked at his recovery through the lens of his lifelong character traits: discipline, a focus on repetition and problem-solving. He knew the only way forward was to “practice, practice, practice”.

To tackle his physical and speech challenges, he committed to an intense daily routine, working closely with his therapy team. As someone who has always embraced an active lifestyle, Manoj drew on that, committing to physical practice multiple times a day. His sheer dedication led to massive achievements, including regular participation in 5km Parkruns and riding his bike all the way into the city – a one-hour ride each way.

Speech required a different kind of intensive focus. Manoj engaged in consistent, intensive language practice, attending weekly 1:1 sessions, weekly group sessions at the local library and completing daily homework and practice with support workers. While communication with his wife and kids was manageable, interacting with others outside of his family was a harder hill to climb, though true friends stayed by his side.

Manoj knew that improving his speech required putting his practice into the real world. In recent months, Manoj has been volunteering for 3 short shifts per week at a local Salvos store. Accompanied by a support worker, he spends the shifts organising clothing and items, and helping to serve customers. He thoroughly enjoys this people-oriented role, and it has yielded clear progress: while his sentences remain short, he successfully gets his point across. 

Reflecting on these achievements – riding his bike into the city, running and volunteering three years post-stroke – three words best define Manoj’s journey: Strong, Motivated, Disciplined. Throughout all his challenges, Manoj has remained incredibly humble with an unwaveringly positive outlook – his beaming smile can certainly light up a room – a factor that has no doubt had a positive impact on his recovery journey thus far.

Looking ahead, Manoj takes his recovery day by day, but he has clear goals for the next phase of his journey. He is currently working through the process to regain his driver’s licence. Once he can drive, he aims to complete his volunteering shifts independently. Ultimately, volunteering serves as a stepping stone toward his long-term goal of returning to paid work, with a strong interest in testing the waters in the fitness industry. Manoj would also like to travel to the UK, having successfully undertaken trips back to his home country of Sri Lanka.

Manoj often refers to himself as “strong,” and his therapy team certainly views him as an incredibly motivated individual. He attributes his rehabilitation successes as the result of “work(ing) hard” and being “determined” and he hopes that others facing similar hardships can tap into these resources as Manoj has done for himself. 

Manoj’s journey is a testament to his resilience and determination. The outcomes and progress described here are not necessarily indicative of what others can expect. It’s important to remember that each individual’s experience with recovery, extent and nature of injuries and access to rehabilitation is unique.

Please consult with your healthcare professionals for personalised advice and support tailored to your specific circumstances.