Ladysmith's Erin Katz has used her love of axe throwing as a physical and mental rehabilitation tool following three strokes in February. (Erin Katz)

By Alex Rawnsley

BULLSEYE

Ladysmith mother targets full recovery following multiple strokes

Apr 24, 2020 | 7:13 AM

LADYSMITH — A local mother of three is taking her recovering from a debilitating stroke one bullseye at a time.

Erin Katz suffered a stroke on Feb. 9 and immediately called 9-1-1. During the following days in hospital, Katz had two more strokes and eventually had surgery in Victoria before beginning rehab in Nanaimo.

Katz was away from home in hospital and living with family for 11 weeks. Upon returning to Ladysmith, she wanted to use a much-loved hobby to aid in her recovery, axe throwing.

Nanaimo’s Axe and Grind delivered and setup a wooden target in Katz’ backyard, supplying her with everything she needed to continue targeting a full recovery.

“It makes you feel like a real badass, you feel really strong, really rad,” Katz told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Especially when I’m feeling weak and I’ve lost so much of myself it’s good to feel strong, capable and that I can do something really fierce like that.”

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Katz said the stroke paralyzed her left side and while she can walk with the help of a cane, her left arm is “not cooperating whatsoever”.

It means learning to throw with one hand instead of two, but she maintained axe throwing has been a vital part in her mental recovery.

“I go out there at least once a day, it’s the favourite part of my day,” Katz said.

Katz’ continues travelling to Nanaimo once a week for rehab and her next goal is to be re-certified to drive her car.

“Recovering from a stroke is super frustrating, you feel trapped in your body you can’t do what you want to do or need to do, it’s quite scary,” Katz said. “I am hopefully but I am a little worried ‘what if this is as far as I go?’ This is all so new to me.”

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley