Two years ago, Jane Koehne was living a healthy and active life, regularly hiking through Kuitpo Forest.
But in June 2022, her world was flipped upside down after experiencing two strokes just a few hours apart.
First there was a smaller stroke (a transient ischaemic attack) followed by a larger one the next morning that left her paralysed in her left side and wheelchair bound.
Jane was taken to Flinders Medical Centre where she spent the next month undergoing physiotherapy to get her movement back.
The shock of the stroke had a significant impact on Jane’s mental health. But a visit from a support worker helped her make sense of what had happened.
“When I first had my stroke, it was like my whole life was ruined,” she said.
“I wasn’t interested in doing anything because I was stuck, I couldn’t stand up. I thought my life was over and I was quite depressed.
“I went along to this talk by a volunteer, her name was Karen, and she had had a stroke, so it was someone speaking from that experience. She really impressed on me that unless I did the work I’m not going to get better, it was down to me.”
Since about August last year, Jane has been making the two-hour round trip from her home in Encounter Bay to the Brain X Body Fitness Studio (BBFS) in Unley twice a week.
She discovered the studio practically by chance while watching the nightly news.
“There was an item on Channel 7 News during Stroke Week and BBFS was featured, that was the first I knew about it,” she said.
“I rang up the next day and said, ‘can you fit me in?’”
BBFS is an innovative, one-of-a-kind exercise studio which works to improve outcomes for those living with a range of conditions, including stroke.
Run by a team of exercise physiologists, clients are given an exercise program specifically tailored to meet their fitness goals.
Jane has come on leaps and bounds since joining BBFS, progressing from using a wheelchair and walking frame to now walking upright unassisted.
Her confidence has improved too after ticking off a major goal to get back in the driver’s seat.
There’s still a bit of work to do though, and one big thing on her bucket list yet to be ticked off: an African safari next year.
“I’m going with a friend and I thought I have to get fit and able to walk at a good pace, because when lions jump out of a bush they always go for the weak ones at the back, and that’s not going to be me!” she said.
If you are interested in joining BBFS, call our Unley studio on 0499 088 725, or our Woodville studio on 0491 810 819.
