We all have our ups and downs. An injury or illness can slow us down. In fact, there are people who stop trying to stay fit when they are disappointed by one of those. And when you are aging and get hit with two or three limitations all at once — say diabetes, a broken hip, and arthritis — it’s easy to throw in the towel.
Warren didn’t throw in the towel.
Twenty-six years ago, a young man at the time, Warren was hit with a massive stroke that left him in a coma for seven days and in the hospital for a month. Not everyone wakes up from one of those and Warren admits that when he did it felt as if his brains were “scrambled.” Interestingly, he does not recall being discouraged.
The stroke caused a brain injury, aphasia, which impedes ability to speak, read and write. There is no drop in intelligence but a drop in the brain’s ability to put words together, process information. He has challenges finding the right words when speaking.
His parents refused to treat that stroke as the end of Warren’s story. They were committed to bringing him back. Fortunately, they were both physically active and knew physical fitness was the road to recovery. They took Warren home and worked with the medical team, right alongside Warren throughout his rehab. It started with intensive physiotherapy, first of all working in the water. He credits his parents with supporting and encouraging him every step of the way. “A lot of rewards.”
Warren was a young man when he had the stroke. He describes that in his pre-stroke life he played sports — baseball, hockey, and racquetball, and he skied. But, Warren added, he “played hard … It was a really bad life. It was party, party, party.” That was fun while it lasted but he’s the first to admit “… it couldn’t go on.”
And it didn’t.
His mother and stepdad never let up supporting Warren during his struggle to come back. Weeks, months, years of hard work. Where has that brought Warren?
Today he gets around in a motorized chair and travels in Handi-DART. He also turns up at the Kamloops Y three days a week and works out in the weight room. His workout challenges him from the moment he arrives. Rolling up to a weight machine, Warren applies the parking brake on his chair and hoists himself onto first weight machine and then another. He is strong, working at high weights, “… up to 216 pounds on the leg press.” As he says, “Strength isn’t my problem, it’s balance.”
He does his cardio on the recumbent bike, locking his feet into the straps and working at “… level 11.” You can only do that with strong legs.
Warren sees that “… working out at the Y makes a huge difference …” He sees “improvement over time. It shows progress in everything, all around beneficial. That keeps me motivated.”
Watching Warren work out puts the rest of us to shame. Not only is he doing his workout, but he also brings to the gym a sunny disposition. He chuckles and teases and shares. He encourages others because by now Warren knows a lot about lifting.
“I personally find that health is important. Keep myself in primo shape. I’m an organ donor so I want to pass on healthy organs.”
When you are feeling bored, lazy, distracted or just don’t feel like keeping up your fitness, come back and listen to Warren at www.youtube.com/@agingfitfully. His infectious laugh, his cheerful smile, there is much to admire. Warren teaches us all resilience.
He summarizes his world view: “We take so much for granted. Every day is very important.” And adds, “I live alone which is quite something.” Yes, Warren it certainly is.
When you are discouraged, when your body has taken a downturn, whatever the cause, when your spirits are at a low ebb, come back and spend time with Warren. There is plenty there to teach and encourage us. Thank you, Warren. You are like a pole star, leading the way to fitness, regardless of our challenges.