ST. LOUIS — A former Division One soccer player and St. Louis youth counselor has been a beacon of hope at the Stephen A. Orthwein Center at Paraquad.
Four years ago, Don Pokorny took a bike ride with friends and suffered a stroke. Pokorny said he woke up from a coma a few days later in a trauma center, and he remembered seeing his daughters talking to the doctor.
"I hear, 'Sorry, girls. Your dad will probably never walk again, and we're going to start looking into assisted living,'" 61-year-old Pokorny said.
Instead of succumbing to despair, Pokorny found strength in his recovery journey, refusing to be a mere passenger on the road to healing.
"I fell nine or 10 times and always got up, but this one was just the right fall that I couldn't get up from," Pokorny said. "If I would give up on my situation, I wouldn't be letting me down. I'd be letting down all these people that believe in me."
The Orthwein Center has been Pokorny's battleground for reclaiming his independence. With unwavering dedication, he navigates each session, motivating himself and those around him to persevere through adversity.
"If this gym had a popularity contest, Don would be the undisputed champ," said Erin Schmidt, a fellow stroke survivor and member of the Orthwein Center community.
Even as he grapples with the loss of mobility on his left side, Pokorny remains steadfast in his resolve to regain every ounce of independence lost to his stroke.
"He is an absolute cheerleader," said Annie Morrow, director of the Orthwein Center. "No matter what someone's doing, he'll just walk by them in the gym and continue to uplift them and keep them going."
Beyond the walls of the Orthwein Center, Pokorny's influence extends into the digital realm with the creation of the Walk For Don Group on Facebook. This online diary captures Pokorny's inspiring journey and the joy he finds in everyday life, serving as a testament to his unwavering spirit.
Pokorny's determination remains unyielding and seems to run in the family. One of his daughters, Maddie, a professional soccer player, has followed in his footsteps.
"There's nothing better than seeing my kids play in college and now Maddie playing in Denmark and Louisville. It's like a thrill," he said smiling.
Guided by resilience and fueled by unwavering resolve, Pokorny stands as a testament to the power of the human spirit, inspiring others to overcome obstacles and reach new heights in their own journeys of recovery.
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