He was given almost no chance of ever walking again.

When Norman Gagatek suffered a massive stroke about four years ago, the prognosis was not good.

At the time of his strike Norm as a key member of Invermere Fire-Rescue and was a friendly volunteer presence at pretty much any community event. If someone needed help; Norm was there for them.

And then he wasn’t. He was bed-ridden and lost to his community, while his family and friends tended to his needs and never game up. Especially his loving partner Kimberley Harris, who has fought tooth, fang and claw for Norm – ensuring he receives the best treatment possible and going nose-to-nose with the medical system when failures occurred along the line.

That kind of support and love is what is needed to bring someone back from the brink and Norm has literally made impressive and inspirational strides forward in his recovery.

On April 13 he took part in the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay – on his feet.

“Just watched my friend Norman walk from the Petro-Can to the DQ (250m) wearing his Rick Hansen medal. They no longer have to keep him strapped into his walker or support him. In a few months, he will be walking on his own! What an inspiration – I love him and Kim so much, and am SO proud of him,” exclaimed long-time friend Jill Wittke-Pawlyshyn. “Almost 4 years ago they told us the best we could hope is he’d be bedridden and awake for no more than 15 minutes at a time. Doctors! They know we don’t know everything about the brain and its ability to heal, but we can definitively tell you to give up and have no hope – jerks! He has SO proved them wrong – way to go Norm!”

Here’s to you Norm and Kimberley – for showing us all that perseverance, courage and love can overcome the greatest of obstacles. We are all enormously proud of you Norm.

For more check out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/25153309103/

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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