The accident: Taking life one step at a time

Life can change in an instant. One moment, you’re living life as usual, and the next, you’re faced with unimaginable challenges.

Brian Goddard knows this all too well. After a devastating motorcycle accident, his world was turned upside down. For six-weeks, Brian was in a hospital where he underwent a series of critical surgeries on his legs, hip and spine, and a stroke that caused paralysis in his left arm.

When Brian was transferred to the D3 unit at Queensway Carleton Hospital, he was unable to walk and had very limited mobility. The odds seemed stacked against him.

Given the importance of early rehab to optimize recovery after his stroke, the team tailored a high intensity therapy plan to provide Brian with the best opportunity possible to improve his function.

They called in the Get Moving Team, an innovative program at QCH designed to help patients regain functional mobility quickly and safely.

“With his high level of motivation, we were able to get him from his bed to a wheelchair with a sliding board,” says Cindy Appleby, a Physiotherapist at QCH. “He practiced propelling his wheelchair and very quickly could do it independently.”

A rehabilitation environment was created on the unit to accommodate Brian’s needs. A pulley system was installed in a doorway to allow for upper body exercises, and tables in the unit’s lounge were set up for GRASP training to improve function in his weaker arm.

“The team was always proactive in finding ways to improve his health and get him

back on his feet," says Maggie, Brian’s wife. "From the nurses and physiotherapists to the doctors and support staff, everyone worked together to help Brian get better.”

Lower body exercises were slowly introduced, and after a grueling and remarkable three months, Brian was able to bear weight on his legs – a moment Brian, Maggie, and the entire team will never forget.

“He stood for the first time using the SARA Stedy walker and we practiced weight shifting, mini squats and marching on the spot,” says Cindy. “We then quickly transitioned to walking with a platform walker. We built-up Brian's walking tolerance and he then transitioned to the two-wheeled walker.”

Maggie credits the team’s enthusiasm, encouragement, and patient-centred approach for Brian’s progress.

“The team went above and beyond our expectations. The team that was in charge of Brian were very accessible, knowledgeable and communicated well.”

Today, Brian’s journey of recovery continues through an outpatient stroke rehabilitation program in the community. While he still faces challenges, he has come a long way from the uncertainty the accident left him with. His story serves as an inspiration to all who face adversity, proving that recovery is not just about physical healing but about the strength to keep moving forward, one step at a time.