Treated stroke victim hails Botox as 'a bloody miracle'

Melbourne, June 19 (ANI): Russell McPhee, a stroke victim who succeeded in walking after being injected with Botox, has branded his treatment "a bloody miracle".

McPhee, injected with the wrinkle-smoothing toxin at a Frankston clinic, has now got a new lease of life after spending almost 20 years being a paralytic.

He calls his doctor Nathan Johns, of St John of God Nepean Rehabilitation Hospital, "a miracle worker, a great man".

"I am so thankful for the day I was wheeled into that clinic. I thought I was going to die in that wheelchair and now I have a chance at a normal life," whereilive.com.au quoted McPhee as saying.

McPhee, who used to be keen football and basketball player, was struck down by a huge stroke at the age of 26 and was told by doctors that he would never walk again.

He lost his job in the meat industry and his marriage fell apart as he struggled to cope.

"I was at a very low ebb. I was an active guy now confined to a wheelchair and I found that tough to get on with. My marriage broke up and I took to the grog for a while, too. It was like I'd lost everything," said McPhee.

For the next 20 years, McPhee adjusted to his new life in Korumburra, before being sent to Johns at Frankston's Nepean Rehabilitation Hospital 18 months ago.

And now, he would become the clinic's most successful Botox recipient to date.

"It is so fantastic that I found myself at that clinic. The Botox has got me out of the wheelchair. I can walk almost unaided and more with a walking frame," said McPhee.

He added: "The physio is so intense but I plan to work so hard and make bloody heaps of progress. I do physio, get acupuncture, massage and see a chiropractor, after years of nothing, it's great. It's such an amazing breakthrough."

And Johns is extremely delighted with his patient's progress.

"Russell's is the most spectacular of all the positive results we've had from Botox injections," he said. (ANI)