Gold Star Award for Blake

Congratulations to our Gold Star award winner Blake

Blake’s Journey to Independence

Last year Blake was faced with a challenging journey after being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), following 18 months of severe leg weakness and pain. Living in Wagga Wagga, he also faced limited access to therapists specialised in FND. However, Blake’s determination, coupled with the support of his partner Ali, led them to find ARC.

Following an initial telehealth assessment with ARC physiotherapist Kumbelin, Blake and Ali made the decision to travel to Sydney to participate in a five-day intensive program, consisting of two sessions per day. The focus was on Blake’s goals of improving transfers, walking, and enhancing independence in daily activities. Before the intensive, Blake was highly dependent on Ali for assistance, used a walker for mobility, and tackled the internal stairs sideways.

He was significantly impacted by pain and fatigue which affected his ability to engage at work and with friends and family.

During the intensive week, therapy and exercises were aimed at gradually increasing Blake’s standing tolerance and improving his gait. Innovative therapy adjuncts like blaze pods and the ClockYourself stepping app were used to enhance his reactive stepping ability with an external focus. Moreover, therapists worked closely with Blake to manage his fatigue and develop a personalised symptom management plan.

By the end of the intensive, Blake had made huge functional gains. He was not only able to navigate stairs independently but also had much more confidence across all his goals. Tasks that were once daunting, like carrying milk from the fridge to the counter, became routine with his confidence soaring from 3/10 to an impressive 8/10 in just 5 days.

Blake’s story doesn’t stop there. With regular fortnightly telehealth sessions, he continues to push forwards in his rehabilitation journey, regaining the ability to participate in everyday activities such as joining his family for meals on the deck and making his own cup of coffee each morning. Being able to gradually reintegrate simple daily tasks into his life brings both independence and joy. We love that now, despite having challenges with sensation, Blake can now enjoy having his dogs on his lap and playing the guitar for short periods.

Blake and his therapists have now set new goals for more challenging tasks, including gardening and cooking, and physiotherapy and occupational therapy will work together to support Blake with these goals.

The whole team at ARC are blown away by his recent video showcasing him walking independently at home without any aids whilst brushing his teeth, and picking flowers from the garden. Blake’s success is a down to a combination of his personal dedication and resilience and the power of specialised and personalised neurorehabilitation.

Congratulations, Blake, on your incredible journey to independence, your story is an inspiration to so many!