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Big Bike steers close to home at Atlas Van Lines by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Wednesday, June 12, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Robert Clark, president of Atlas Van Lines Canada, admits he was shocked when he suffered a stroke late last year, but says it taught him not to take good health for granted. It also made his and 24 Atlas employees' participation in this year's Heart and Stroke Big Bike Challenge hit closer to home -- this is the second year the Oakville-based company participated in the fundraiser. "More than anything else, it's to generate more awareness that it can happen to anybody at any time, even when you least expect it," Clark said. Before his stroke in November 2012, Clark described himself as an active, fast-paced person. He travelled a lot for business and went to the gym two-three times a week -- in fact, a physical prior to his stroke showed he had no serious health issues. Clark's doctors told him he has an atrial fibrillation (a rapid heart rate), something he says he was aware of but wasn't concerned about. "My cardiologist told me, when I had my stress test the year before (his stroke), he wasn't concerned because he said my heart rate normalizes under stress. At rest, it's irregular, but under stress it regulates. So I thought I'm in the perfect job for that then," he joked. "I was also given Aspirin and not placed on blood thinners as a result. In retrospect, I wish I was on blood thinners then." Atlas Van Lines Canada employees participated for the second year in the Heart and Stroke Big Bike Challenge. Atlas Canada President Bob Clark is a stroke survivor himself. Here, Clark, centre, gets ready to ride the big bike with some of his employees. photo by Hannah Yoon ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) Clark suffered a right-hemispheric ischemic stroke; a blood clot caught in a tiny vessel on the right side of the brain, which he says is fairly uncommon. "You're four times more likely to have a leftbrain stroke and that one is much more disabling," he said -- it affects the right side of the body, including vision, the ability to speak, swallow, and cognitive skills. Of the symptoms indicating a person is suffering a stroke -- issues with stability, tremors, trouble remembering or speaking, "killer" headaches, and vision issues -- Clark says he only felt the headache and slight issues with his balance, which he believed was caused by the headache. "Luckily for me, my wife decided to call an ambulance instead of giving me the Advil I was asking for," he said. After spending a month in hospital, Clark said he is still recovering. He is on blood thinners, has an hour of exercise every morning and physiotherapy four days a week, as well as works out with a trainer at his gym. Clark describes his recovery as intense -- the neuro-physiotherapy he is undergoing essentially is retraining his brain around the blockage, which is comparable to rebooting a computer, he says. "The therapy works, but it takes time," he said. "Fortunately, they (doctors) have told me I won't have any permanent damage, but it may take up to a year to get things all back to working again normally." Clark said he has had to relearn how to use his left leg and the fingers on his left hand -- his doctors have told him he has only a two per cent chance of having another stroke. "After being a month in the hospital, you reprioritize your life and beliefs, let me tell you," he said, adding, he keeps a positive mental attitude and learned quickly not to pity himself. "Your ideology, principles -- you certainly reevaluate a lot of things in life, things you may have taken for granted, your friends, family, spouse. "You embrace that family time." Clark has since returned to work on a nearly full-time basis while maintaining his rigorous recovery schedule. 2For more information on the Big Bike Challenge, visit www.bigbike.ca. Seeing God in the Details OPEN HOUSE Monday, June 17th 7:30pm - 8:30pm Christian education for JK to grade 8 in a challenging academic environment. Open House: June 17th. www.jkcs-oakville.org for details. Busing available from Mississauga 40 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK RENOVATION SALE off ENTIRE STORE % RENOVATION SALE www.jkcs-oakville.org 2232 Sheridan Garden Drive, Oakville Watch Us Fashions 1131 Nottinghill Gate (Glen Abbey) 905-827-2271 (Store Manager) Kim Karen (Owner)