Health

Randy Kraus lived an active life. Born and raised in Fresno, CA, 62-year-old Kraus served on the Fresno Police Department for 15 years before starting his own company, Kraus & Dye Investigations.

 

During a routine operation in 2002 to help prevent the shaking effects of Parkinson's, Kraus suffered a sudden stroke which changed his life forever. When he woke from the surgery he heard a nurse say "He'll never walk again."

 

"I felt my life was over," Kraus says. At one low point he contemplated suicide, but remembering his family and friends, the fighter in Kraus was reborn. He found a way to change his situation for the better.

 

Kraus' road to recovery began with a gift certificate for physical therapy with Andrew Garud, an exercise physiologist at Gold's Gym in Fresno. Garud approached Kraus' situation with a positive frame of mind. "First you have to accept your situation. If you don't make any improvements, then you must be happy with your life the way it is. But that doesn't mean you should not try to improve. It is healthy to try."

 

With these words in mind, Kraus worked hard and began to see results.

 

It all started during a therapy session where Kraus was able to push up his leg, and Garud could see the muscles working. At this point, Garud knew they had a chance to do the impossible.

 

Kraus progressed in his recovery to taking three baby steps from his wheelchair to a piece of exercise equipment. "It was very emotional for Randy," Garud says. "It was a very important moment for both of us."

 

From there he eventually was able to walk the length of the boxing ring completely unassisted. Today, he can walk up to 50 feet with no assistance and uses an electric wheelchair to enjoy an active lifestyle every day.

 

Kraus is now an honorary member of the Gold's Gym team, and finds great pride in helping local patients find their paths to recovery, just as he found his.

 

Kraus has helped a number of people, including a man who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and a stroke victim who is in a similar situation as Kraus had been after his operation.

 

Kraus' efforts to heal himself, as well as others, have helped create a sense of hope in all who know him. Where does all of this hope and positive energy come from?  It comes from Kraus' motto, "If I can do it, anyone can do it!"