A Stroke of Good Luck

It's hard to believe that having a stroke could bring two friends back together after almost 60 years, but that's what happened when two former navy buddies were reunited this year at Toronto's Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care.

Al Shukster had not seen Edward Kiniski since 1945 when the two were classmates during a naval course in radio and radar equipment. But when the two met in a discussion group for stroke survivors, Al recognized Ed from a class graduation photo taken almost six decades ago.

Ed had a stroke a few years ago but was actually attending the discussion group with his wife who is also a stroke survivor and a member of Baycrest's Moving On After Stroke program. The education, support and exercise program helps stroke survivors who have completed active rehabilitation, live in the community and want to learn to enjoy life again. Al, who had a stroke in 2003, uses a wheelchair to get around, but finds that water therapy exercises have helped him keep mobile.

"I had never done water therapy. I didn't think I'd be able to get across the pool once but now I can do it eight times - not gracefully, but I stagger across," Al says with a grin.

Photo Caption: Ed Kiniski (left) and Al Shukster hold a photo of themselves taken in 1945 when they were in the navy. Ed had a stroke a few years ago but was actually attending the discussion group with his wife who is also a stroke survivor and a member of Baycrest's Moving On After Stroke program.