Ray Bekeris

How I found my way back after a stroke This is a story about Preface If a bridge collapsed in your town and it was peak hour traffic, a few cars would end up in the water and lives wouldbe lost. Eventually cars would back up on either side, but the people would still want

The next day I woke up in hospital feeling euphoric. If this were how I was to die, I would be happy. I was surrounded by people but all I wanted was to go back to sleep. Their voices were distant, but I knew they were in the same room. I sat up, thinking I

I experienced a broad range of emotions during my stay in the hospitals. These emotions were all new to me. Certainly, I was frustrated because I couldn’t talk or walk and at the same time, I was guilty because I wasn’t at work. Work had always been, and for most men of my age is,

My brain felt locked, and I couldn’t communicate with the outside world. From what I could see all the therapists would give me the keys, but I had to do the work. After much speech therapy I blurted out the word ‘PIG.’ I felt that I had started to achieve something good. My Occupational Therapist

Physiotherapy was also critical to help me become independent again. There was much mental and physical pain as I tried to balance, walk, and use my right arm. While I was being helped and there were people around, I felt brave but behind closed doors it was a different matter. I was beginning to wonder

When I went to Fiona Stanley, at last I was given a private room. Being a new hospital, everything was very different and top of the range compared to Royal Perth. The exceptionally good service was the same. Here, as my walking ability had improved, I was allowed more freedom. I was able to wander

When I went to Fiona Stanley, at last I was given a private room. Being a new hospital, everything was very different and top of the range compared to Royal Perth. The exceptionally good service was the same. Here, as my walking ability had improved, I was allowed more freedom. I was able to wander

While I was in Geraldton on the December 12, 2017, my wife, of eight years, decided to end the marriage and she didn’t want me back in Perth. I tried to talk with her, but she hung up. She wanted a divorce! This was shattering and where I really fell into a dark hole. I

My life seemed to be in disarray and as I had a lot of time on my hands, I needed to do something. I volunteered, two days a week, as a driver, at a drug rehabilitation centre, called Shalom. I used to ferry groups of men from the property to the doctor at the medical