In the second episode of Series 2, we chat with Ruth, who suffered a terrible car accident 33 years ago that left her in a coma for six and a half weeks.

The doctors predicted that Ruth would never walk or feed herself again, but she proved them wrong. Her journey to recovery was filled with challenges and setbacks, but she never lost her positive attitude or determination to overcome her obstacles.

Tune in to hear about Ruth's experiences in rehab and how she coped with the significant changes to her life after the accident.

This conversation is sure to leave you feeling inspired and ready to face whatever challenges life throws your way.

Welcome to the Bouncing Back podcast series two, by Independent Rehabilitation Services (IRS), a community based Allied Health practice in Melbourne specialising in neuro rehab and disability services.

In this episode, our host William speaks to a storyteller about their journey of overcoming a terrible car accident in 2018. The storyteller, who prefers to remain anonymous, was only 19 years old at the time and the accident left them unable to walk or speak, resulting in them having to relearn basic functions and dealing with severe mental health challenges.

Despite this, with determination and support from a very supportive therapy team, the storyteller has decided to share their story and show listeners how faith, focus, and belief can give you the strength to overcome even the toughest of circumstances.

In this podcast, William and our storyteller have an informal and friendly conversation about life prior to the accident, their rehab journey, and the role of faith in recovery.

Listeners will be able to hear the storyteller's raw and honest account of their experiences and gain inspiration from their resilience and positivity.

You will be left feeling an overwhelming sense of hope and encouragement. Prepare to be moved!

Come chill with Tyson as he tells us about his recovery from a severe stroke at the age of 25.

He is a true Aussie bloke who proves that everyone’s recovery is individual to them. When he was in hospital, Tyson was told he may have to go to a care home and would be unable to move his arm ever again.

Tyson has been “proving them wrong” ever since by making his recovery work for him. He now lives with his adorable cat Simba and is honing his skills as an artist at TAFE.

His personal growth during his recovery is heartening and his message to listeners is clear - find out what works for you to achieve your goals.

Nic is an Occupational Therapist (OT) with a passion for neurological rehabilitation.

She explains the wide ranging OT role and shares a heart warming story of a client she worked with in the hospital setting. She reflects on the highs and lows of the profession, and highlights the importance of collaborative working with other professions.

A great explainer for those wanting to get their head around what OT’s spend their time doing.

Lachie is 28 year old aspiring exercise physiologist, chef, and competitive hand cyclist living in Melbourne.

He has been living in a wheelchair for eleven years since sustaining a spinal cord injury at the age of 17 due to a rugby accident at a regular training session. Lachie’s story is a humbling account of how he struggled and succeeded in finding a new passion and motivation to live his best life.

Lachie provides insights into his early recovery as a teenager and the frightening consequences of a recent fall. His useful tips about looking after yourself and making the most of a support network demonstrate an emotional maturity and inner strength that is captivating to hear.

Lachie’s strength of spirit shines through as he explains how he has tried many different leisure and career options. These experiences have brought him to hand cycling and plans to study exercise physiology soon.

You will be heartened by how Lachie has adapted and persisted and we hope his story helps to awaken your passions too!

Enthusiastic and informative, Matt takes us through what a speech pathologist typically does on a daily basis and who they might provide therapy to.

He also shares some stories of working with clients, showcasing how much he loves what he does to help others.

Matt provides a great introduction to the life of a speech pathologist for anyone curious to know who makes up the Independent Rehabilitation Services neurorehabilitation team.

Brian and Robin are a lovely husband and wife duo who were involved in a nasty motorbike accident in 2018.

Whilst Robin walked away with a broken ankle, Brian was not so lucky. His injuries, including a brain injury, were extensive. The accident caused an abrupt halt to their busy lives. Brian faced the reality of closing his travel business, a lifestyle and a passion, far earlier than he had anticipated.

This recording was completed when Brian and Robin were 15 months into their rehabilitation after the accident, and Brian is 65 years old.

Their story of a couple working through the tough times together is punctuated by Brian’s fierce humour and bold personality. The message for their listeners to ‘never give up’ is a suitable preface for a future full of hope and promise.

Incredible is one of the first words you will think of when you listen to Ben’s story.

He was 39 years old on a business trip in Hong Kong, in 2016, when he experienced a catastrophic stroke. It affected one third of his brain and completely wiped out his ability to speak.

This recording is testament to the years of hard work that Ben has put in to rebuild his life. He is relentless in breaking through boundaries and he will change your perceptions of what someone living with disability can do.

Ben’s advice for his listeners is sincere, powerful and truly heartfelt - a must for anyone doubting what can be achieved.

Diane’s story is characterised by a fairytale romance following a devastating motor vehicle accident in 2014.

She sustained serious injuries including a shattered pelvis, broken neck and brain injury, which required many surgeries and years of rehabilitation.

In this episode, Diane provides a fascinating account of her recovery, highlighting the vast breadth of activities that the rehabilitation team can address, like returning to work, preparing for a baby, and learning to surf.

Threaded amongst all this is the story of how she met her husband who has been a wonderful support for her over the years. Now at the age of 30, Diane also has two beautiful children.

If you are looking for an uplifting story, tune in to listen to Diane with her ‘can do’ attitude and endless optimism.

Welcome to Bouncing Back with Independent Rehabilitation Services, a podcast of people telling their story of how an accident or medical diagnosis has transformed their life.

The series will feature interviews with people who have had their life turned upside down due to a traumatic event, telling their story in their own words.

We also talk with the some of the people, family, supports and health professionals who have helped people to get their lives back on track.

Each episode chronicles a journey to recovery, sharing personal insights and the help from family, supports and health professionals.

We hope you enjoy Bouncing Back with Independent Rehabilitation Services.