I am a Vietnam Veteran and have been with Northside Allied Health (NAH) since its inception in Morayfield. I have several medical conditions including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression and anxiety.
NAH provided total support, developing a care plan to perfectly fit all my physical and mental needs, ever changing as my conditions improved and stabilised. I lost nearly 20kgs over 2 years, got physically stronger and more confident in movement and stamina. I was able to put in many extra gym hours/wk. with the motivation developed in me by the holistic approach of NAH.
There were several minor injuries, common place to us senior citizens, which were quickly and easily overcome with the other professionals associated with NAH, including Physiotherapy and Occupation therapist.
But one of the main things that really had a big positive effect on my life was the people I shared this regime with. I had been a loner, not mixing well with other people, living a life without much social interaction. NAH changed that, we became a bonded group. I was not alone, there were many of us, each one similar but different. My quality of life had come alive.
We moved back to NSW, to Wagga Wagga, to be closer to family. Good move as far as family was concerned but I relapsed, gaining weight, losing fitness and stamina. After about a year NAH finally managed to get a new group together at one of our local gyms and once again I was able to slowly regain some of what I had lost. Thank you NAH, thank you Liz Dawson and your truly amazing staff, and also Liz Coolee in Wagga, who have given many of us a quality of life we thought we would never have again.
Allen (Peter) Kirkman