The best job Jake Sims has ever had
A self-described adrenaline junkie, avid snowboarder and Australian Army photographer Jake Sims has faced many dangerous situations, but a stroke in 2017 is one experience he’ll never forget.
The father of two was walking through Canberra Airport when he began to notice the symptoms.
“It was a weird sensation, I started to see stars and then I lost my vision. My legs became heavy, I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other,” he said.
Just 30-years-old at the time, working in his dream career, with a four-month-old baby at home, a stroke is the last thing Jake could have predicted.
“I really worried about my future and my family, I didn’t know how I would be able to support my wife Liz, my son Hugo was so young, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to play with him and watch him grow.”
After three weeks in hospital and eight months of rigorous rehabilitation, Jake returned to full duties at work.
“I credit my recovery to my rehab. I threw everything I had into it, my drive and determination came down to my personality traits and my training. The army teaches you to push yourself to the limit both physically and mentally, so I kept pushing in rehab, even when it hurt.” he said.
But the best job Jake has ever had is being a dad to Hugo and Eleanor. His stroke experience making every Father’s Day extra special.
“Father’s Day means so much to me, it’s amazing that I’m still here and I’ve been able to build my family,” Jake said.
“I lost my own dad when I was 15, so Father’s Day wasn’t a happy memory. But having my own family and being able to wake up to my son and daughter running in and cuddling me in the morning, it’s made it such a special day.”
“Having a stroke when Hugo was so young was hard, I was really scared about dying young like my dad. I’m thankful for my amazing medical team for allowing me to be here with my family.”