JEFF Newsome has learned to walk and talk again.
And wheelchair-bound Romy believes she will one day run on the beach with her grandchildren and sail again.
Their personal stories are a tribute to the outstanding work being done by the dedicated stroke unit at Ipswich Hospital.
Romy Gawthorne, 72, had moved into a new unit in Tin Can Bay when she had her stroke early in 2014.
"It had a swimming pool and I was thinking, when my lot came to visit, I could go down and swim with my great-grandkids, because they are water babies...like I am," she said.
"I can walk a few steps. My biggest goal is to run with my little nephews and grandchildren on the beach and play footy with them. I will one day.
"This unit is very good. I have had a speech therapist. I couldn't talk properly when I had my stroke. I had black moments when I couldn't remember things. But it has come back."
Jeff, 74, started his journey to recovery after having a stroke four years ago.
"I started doing six weeks of rehab here with speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy," he said.
"If not for this unit I probably wouldn't be able to talk or walk like I can now. They got me to where I am now. Every day is a challenge."
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A stroke of inspiration in duo