Cambridge Country Manor resident walks again after 10 years

For 10 years Roger Rahmann did not walk. He was told he would never walk again by his doctor due to severe arthritis, which sidelined the now 68-year old retired plumber.

“I loved my job and planned to keep going into my 70s, but I had to stop," says Roger. "I just couldn’t do it anymore because of the physical work required to lay pipe for water-mains. What's worse, where I was living had too many stairs, so in May 2018, I came to live at Cambridge Country Manor.”

And that’s when things started to change for the better.

Refusing to give up, Roger worked hard, each and every day, with the staff at the Caressant Care long-term care home. He participated in two fitness classes as well as one-on-one physiotherapy every day to regain what he had lost – mobility.

And his courage and perseverance paid off.

Slowly, he began to walk again with the aid of a walker. In October, he was given the OK to walk on his own. Today, he can walk up to 60 feet on his own without the aid of his walker.

“I feel great,” adds Roger. "And I can’t thank staff enough. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

With his newfound freedom, Roger makes his own bed and is able to get dressed himself - things so many of us take for granted. When Spring arrives, Roger has one goal: to go for a nice walk outside.

For those facing similar challenges, Roger offers some key advice. “Don’t give up, be determined, because you can do it.”

In photo: Roger Rahmann