‘This is nothing compared to the journey that I’ve already taken’ Three stroke survivors walk the Jordan Bridge to raise awareness

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The Jordan Bridge, high above the Elizabeth River, is a symbol of hope for three stroke survivors.

“I look at [the South Jordan Bridge] as the obstacle of life. Life is like the highest bridge,” said Brent James. “The highest… longest bridge is this journey and recovery. This is nothing compared to the journey that I’ve already taken and that I will continue to take.”

At 41, James suffered a brain attack while at work.

“In 2021, I was at work, working, digging a hole. All of a sudden, I just fell out saying, ‘I don’t feel right.’ They said, ‘well sit down.’ Then I sat down, I tried to get back up and I couldn’t get up. After that… that’s all I pretty much remember. I woke up in the hospital and my life had changed. It changed for the better, because now I know that I wasn’t living right.”

Since then, James has worked with the Adler Therapy Group to learn to walk again with limited mobility of his left arm. Several of his therapists joined him as he walked from Portsmouth to Chesapeake Saturday morning.

A bridge to recovery from stroke for Portsmouth man

James hopes to inspire others to live a healthy lifestyle.

“I want to stop people from ever being this way, this walk is the best way to do it. I’m saying avoid it before it happens,” said James.

James met two men in physical therapy, Tony Colon and Derek Bennett. Colon had a stroke at 51, while at home.

“I was very weak, with slurred speech. I couldn’t get up,” said Colon. “I’ve had a lot of therapy. I had a loss of appetite and mild depression. I saw [James] in the same condition [that] I was, so I was curious.”

The two became “instant friends” two years ago.

“I said, ‘man, you going to motivate me, and I’m going to motivate you. You be strong. I’ll be strong.’ Since that day, we kept going with that! He’s kept me strong, and I kept him strong,” said James.

Last week, James met Bennett ahead of the walk.

“The first time seeing each other, we recognized ‘Hey, you had a stroke. It affected your left side.’ He invited me [to the walk] and started encouraging me,” said the Miami native that just celebrated his 34 ^th birthday.

Bennett suffered his stroke on New Year’s Day 2017.

“I kept dropping things, I had slurred speech. I would tell my mom, ‘Happy New Year’ in a text message. But I sent a bunch of gibberish. I was so confused and dizzy. Basically, I was out of it… like a walking zombie,” said Bennett. “I was in the hospital for about four or five months. It was really hard.”

Bennett adds, “I couldn’t sit up. I couldn’t sign my name. I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t eat whole foods, and I love to eat. I just tried to figure out how to find motivation, which is getting back to work — which I love.”

All three men believe God brought them together to help one another and others.

“I have never walked for a cause. But as a testament, I wanted to do this for myself and to show a lot of young people, to watch your health. You’re not too young to have a stroke,” said Bennett. “My goal is to get back to me. I’ve been stuck in a shell while I’ve been dealing with depression. I can’t use my left hand right now, but I would love to cook. I cook for a living. I would love to provide for my family!”

“I’m going to come back all the way. I pray that we all come back all the way, so we can show people that you never give up,” said James.

Colon concludes with, “All things are possible if you put God first.”

Next year, James plans to host another walk to spread awareness.

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