Sudbury author explores stories of stroke survivors and their recovery

Sudbury author David Leblanc talks with Tony Ryma about his new novel 'Beyond Stroke.'

A Sudbury author is leaning on his recovery from a stroke to help him write a new book.

David Leblanc of Sudbury says his latest novel, ‘Beyond Stoke,’ explores the stories of stroke survivors and how they managed to persevere.

“I acted upon the words of a person who said if you know something about a topic, write about it,” Leblanc said.

“And since I had a stroke, I figured I should write this book.”

He suffered his stroke 12 years ago. There were no warning signs before it happened and the stroke changed his life drastically.

“My educational background was in Laurentian University PhysEd, and I was focused on cancer and heart attack,” said Leblanc.

“I knew all the signs about a heart attack and I was ready. But when the stroke came along, I had no clue.”

He underwent three months of rehabilitation at Health Sciences North on the third floor. He later spent some time at ICAN-Independence Centre and Network in Sudbury, a group that helps people living with a physical disability.

He also went to a Sudbury organization, IRegained, that helped him get his hands and fingers moving.

“I am nowhere near back. I cannot ride my unicycle yet. I do not think I will ever fully recover,” Leblanc said.

“However, there is a lady in the book who made tremendous strides and is almost back to where she was before her stroke.”

He interviewed 23 people from northern Ontario for the book and says all of them have one thing in common.

“They are determined. They are convinced they are going to do it. They exercise and they are motivated.”

Leblanc says family, spouses and partners are equally important to a stroke victim’s recovery. Without their encouragement, he says, the hills would be that much higher to climb.