I reached my goal to join the Pararoos soccer team - by Nicole

I had two strokes 5 years ago when I was 21 years old. At the time I was a soccer fanatic and was aiming to develop my skills, possibly professionally.

After my stroke I lost the use of my left arm and leg and had to learn to do everything all over again – including playing soccer.

Facing stroke at 21 was hard enough, but not playing my sport, well for me that simply was not an option.

I worked my bum off with a single goal, to play again. I figured if I was able to get on the field then all my physical challenges would sort themselves out, that consumed my thoughts – and still does.

Now, I play three hours of soccer per week and I participate in the Pararoos Development Centre twice every month.

I am the first woman to be in the NSW Paralympic football team and in July I will travel to Canberra to represent my state and then after that, my country.

I am a determined and positive and I won’t let anything defeat me.

Strokes can happen to anyone and change many young lives lives forever. The feeling of being trapped in your body, unable to rely on it, is tough.

I stuck to my therapies and did loads of rehabilitation to get to where I am today. I have found practice and repetition really do make a difference. The human brain is amazing and repeating a movement over and over and over again may make a big difference in your recovery. #fightstroke