Stroke Survivor an Inspiration

Daily Herald

At age 44, Libertyville resident Jeff Rizner has come a long way from the time seven years ago when he lay helplessly in the hospital suffering from a stroke. He has made great strides – in more ways than one – as a former patient at Condell Medical Center who now boasts an impressive record of completing tough athletic challenges.

After his surgery, when he felt the time was right, he entered athletic events just to see if he could finish. He had never run a race before.

For Rizner, 2007 was a landmark year as he successfully completed the Boston, Chicago and Walt Disney World marathons. He has more elite races planned for this year, as well as fundraising to benefit stroke patients and research.

“I pushed myself to exercise and regain my strength because I wanted to get back to the things I enjoyed”, Rizner said. “The first time I entered a race after my surgery, I turned around at the finish line and saw people behind me who were very encouraged and realized that I had a lot of potential for a comeback if I stayed commited.”

When he was 37, the risk of having a stroke had never even entered his mind. But there he was, in the operating room with neurosurgeon Jonathan Citow, chief of the division of neurosurgery at Condell Medical Center, who repaired a vein malformation in his brain that caused the stroke. Two weeks after surgery, Rizner thought he would be paralyzed for the rest of his life. Then came a milestone: He took eight small but significant steps across the floor of his hospital room.

Rebuilding himself was an uphill battle. He came to Centre Club, Condell Medical Center's fitness centers, to learn how to run again and regain upper body strength.

Rizner achieved incredible results in his rehabilitation because he was extremely motivated. He kept “raising the bar”, resetting his goals higher as function returned throughout his body.

Rizner, a customer service director for a Lake County company offers inspiration as he talks to patients about overcoming the challlenges they face. “Every stroke patient does not have to go out and run a marathon. They can set their own goal that's right for them and work to achieve it. It is possible”.