John’s Story
After his stroke in 2019, John worked incredibly hard to get back on his feet. He regained the ability to walk, and although things were far from easy, he had built a level of independence that gave him hope for the future.
However, in 2022, John experienced a severe fall that became a major setback. The fall triggered significant spasticity (or “high tone”) in his left leg, a common complication after stroke, where the muscles remain in a constant state of tightness and are difficult to relax. For John, this meant his leg became so stiff that it was no longer functional for walking, forcing him to become a full-time wheelchair user.
“Even from my initial assessment I was given some hope from the team at Cortex,”
“They may not have promised me they could fix me, but they did promise they’d give it their all, and that’s all I wanted.”
Fighting Back Against the Tone
Since beginning his rehabilitation with us in early 2024, John has been working on standing practice, weight-bearing, and muscle activation to gradually regain some control over his left side. We have attended several Botox injection sessions with him at the hospital to help reduce the tone and allow for more movement. John also uses a state-of-the-art knee orthosis, which applies a gentle, constant stretch to his leg, helping it to stay as straight as possible and preventing further shortening of the muscles.
“I came to Cortex to see if they would have the same opinion as others I’d seen in the past, that I wouldn’t stand or walk again. Fortunately, they didn’t. They felt I was worth working with and, while they were honest that it wouldn’t be a short road, they committed to being by my side. So far, they’ve already proved the others wrong.”
Looking to the Future
Most recently, John has been attending appointments at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow to discuss a surgical procedure to permanently straighten his knee. This would allow him to bear weight more evenly through both legs, and although it may leave him with little to no knee bend, it would be a huge step toward his goal of walking again.
This surgery is expected to take place in the early months of 2026, and with continued physiotherapy before and after the procedure, we are hopeful that John will be back on his feet again.
John’s Thoughts on the Journey
When asked about his experience so far, John was honest about the challenges:
“It’s been hard work, you don’t realise how hard it is until you’re in it. There have been times where I’ve thought, ‘I’ve had enough,’ but the Cortex team are always behind me, cheering me on and pushing me to keep going. Progress is slow, but it’s happening, and the results speak for themselves. I can’t describe the feeling of moving a muscle that hasn’t worked in years, it’s incredible.”
Celebrating Progress
John’s story is far from over. From standing practice in his kitchen to taking his first supported steps in our walking hoist, his determination continues to inspire us. Every small gain, every extra second of standing, every muscle that begins to activate is a victory worth celebrating.
And we’re right there with him, every step of the way.