Roline Sheppard embodies resilience and inspiration. A retired teacher with 50 years of service, Roline was always on the move – caring for her five-acre property, tending her two ponies and more than 100 birds, walking 10,000 steps daily, and enjoying games of bowls and golf several times a week.
Her active lifestyle filled each day with energy and purpose, but six months ago, her life took an unexpected turn.
Roline suffered a pontine stroke, a condition caused by a blocked blood flow to the brainstem. This sudden, life-threatening event challenged her in unimaginable ways.
"I was outside watering the roses when my knee gave way. I assumed it was my old knee acting up after reconstruction, but within an hour, I lost my balance, and my vision blurred - I felt like I was drunk," Roline says.
Quick action by her housemate, a former nurse, ensured she was immediately transported to Gympie Hospital and later to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH).
Facing the Reality of Recovery
When Roline woke up the following morning, she was paralysed on her left side. Her determination, however, was unshaken.
“When I reached Gympie Rehab, I was terrified to think about what had happened to me,” Roline shares.
“It felt like everything I once knew was broken, but I focused entirely on fixing it.”
And fix it, she did. With a grueling recovery plan of six hours in rehab each day, Roline tackled one milestone at a time.
The Gympie Rehab Gym became her sanctuary, where a compassionate team of physiotherapists tailored achievable goals.
"They believed in me," Roline says. "Every time I reached a goal—whether it was standing unaided or walking—they set the next challenge. They pushed me, but always explained why it mattered. Their encouragement kept me going."
Through sheer grit, Roline transitioned from wheelchair-bound to walking unaided, with each milestone a testament to her relentless positivity.
"When I could walk to the gym myself, I thought, 'What’s next? How do I get back on the bowling green?'"
Returning to Independence and Community
Now, just six months later, Roline has returned to bowling and reclaimed the joy of community and independence.
"I’m beyond grateful to the Gympie rehab team," she says. "They gave me back my confidence and control over my life."
Despite its achievements, the Gympie Rehab Gym requires crucial upgrades—a fresh coat of paint, updated fixtures, and new equipment would transform the space.
Fundraising efforts are also underway to bring a Biplane Imaging Device to SCUH. This advanced technology enhances stroke diagnosis and treatment, offering life-saving precision and reducing disability rates.
How You Can Help Stroke Survivors Like Roline
Roline’s story highlights the power of determination and underscores the importance of supporting health services.
With your help, we can equip facilities like the Gympie Rehab Gym and provide cutting-edge tools like the Biplane unit to improve outcomes for stroke survivors.
Every donation fuels hope. Every contribution makes independence possible for patients like Roline. Together, we can transform lives—one step at a time.
