Jo Boardman didn't expect to be blind at age 48, but it's unlocked for her a gold medal dream.
By Adriana Tobin for 1News.co.nz
"It was really quick," she says describing the lead up to her life-changing stroke.
In August last year she had been suffering from intense headaches before collapsing in her home in Auckland.
The cause was a stroke due to a rare colloidal cyst growing in her brain.
She was rushed to Auckland City Hospital for surgery where they drained the fluid around the cyst with tubes - "I've got two nice crevices in my head where they went in," Jo said.
They're now hidden by her hair, but some scars are harder to ignore.
While her eyes still function, the stroke damaged the visual cortex in her brain responsible for processing visual information.
It's called cortical blindness and the possibility she will regain her vision is low.
She can however now distinguish between when it's light and dark, and can see the shape or outline of objects in front of her.
"Losing my sight in the early stages was very, very limiting. I couldn't do pretty much anything by myself or for myself."
Everyday tasks like eating and getting dressed suddenly become challenging - with Jo saying she risked putting on a bright pink and yellow outfit.
She used repetition as a tool to help with her speech and memory during her occupational therapy.
"I remember being very frustrated. I could not remember the word pineapple to save my life, and I'd just sit on the word trying to think.
"But it took me probably a month to be able to recall a pineapple."
Back to work
Going back to work was also difficult, but as a remedial massage therapist whose practice is touch-focused, she's managed to adapt.
Despite the challenges, Jo says that even after she awoke in hospital, having no memory of the stroke, she wasn't scared because of the support and reassurance of her family. They've been with her every step of the way and now they're backing her world championship dreams.
She and her husband Wayne are currently training for the 2027 World Archery Para Championships in Canberra, Australia. They're aiming to bring home the gold for New Zealand.
Wayne has set up a Givealittle to help raise funds towards Jo's dream, which will go directly into her world championship funding, including for equipment, coaching and travel fees.
The championship was suggested to her by a friend's partner who said it was an up-and coming sport in New Zealand for blind athletes. Intrigued, Jo went along to a try-it day set up by Blind Low Vision, an organisation that supports people with vision impairments.
She immediately fell in love with the sport and signed up to a beginner's course at the Auckland Archery club soon after.
Her husband is her spotter, meaning the pair can spend quality time and get in some exercise on the weekends.
The championship will be in October next year, but the up-and-coming archery star isn't deterred, only determined.
"It's a bit of a trek (to Australia) and I'll have to move pretty quickly but yeah, I'll get there."
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