Dunedin man with locked-in syndrome helping break barriers

September 9, 2021

Nick Chisholm is winning over a new generation of admirers after suffering a stroke 22 years ago which left him paralysed and suffering from locked-in syndrome.

A Dunedin man is breaking barriers and winning over a new generation of admirers following an incident at a local store.

Nick Chisholm has locked-in syndrome (pseudocoma), a rare neurological disorder which causes the complete paralysis of all voluntary muscles except for those which control eye movements, after suffering a stroke more than two decades ago. 

Now, he is visiting schools to share his remarkable story.

Chisholm communicates to his friend and interpreter, Rob Stewart, using eye movements.

"One time, a little girl saw him in The Warehouse and started bawling her eyes out and so Nick was like, 'How do I break that down with people? I know, I'll put myself out there and tell my story and they'll see I'm a normal person'."

While his body was severely impacted by a stroke 22 years ago, he's fully aware mentally.

His happy place is a central city gym where Nick's 'Iron Warriors' work out under his watchful eye. 

“He is just phenomenal and he's a happy man - he's a happy man,” Sandra McElrea, one of Nicks' Iron Warriors' said.

She was paralysed down the left side after suffering a stroke around 20 months ago.

"I could only move one finger." 

Kevin, too, is also recovering after a stroke.

"Now, according to these boys, I've got muscles below the legs," he said.

Nick has also noticed improvements over the years. 

His goal remains the same - to walk unassisted. 

It's something his children - 17-month-old triplets - are trying to master, too.  

Despite his challenges, Nick isn't letting that stop him.

Nick Chisholm lived life to the full until he had a stroke at the age of 27 in 2000.

"Anger is a gift is Nick's motto. By that, he means take your life's frustrations and use them in a way that pushes you to achieve your goals."

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