This past November, Team REHAB was overjoyed to see many returnees as well as new faces come together for our 6th adaptive cycling event. One new attendee was Nat Mun-Takata, a stroke survivor and active member of REHAB’s Stroke Support Group. Nat shared, “I heard about adaptive cycling through Tracey [Saiki] at the support group–she said, ‘You should go!’ and so here I am!”
Though new to adaptive cycling, Nat first came to REHAB in 2022 after experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke. “After my first stroke I recovered really well,” Nat said. “I could drive and I could go anywhere. But because I had such a great recovery, I wasn’t as cautious about adhering to my at-home care, taking my blood pressure and medications.” Two years later, Nat and her family were devastated when she suffered a second stroke. “My first thought was, ‘not again.’ We were told that I might not be able to make it through and it was incredibly difficult to come back from. But here I am, about to ride a bike!”
“I just love that this gives people with limited mobility the opportunity to do something different. I like to say ‘this-ability’ instead of ‘disability’ because it is important to focus on the abilities that you do have and make use of those skills.”
Nat was accompanied by Steve, her husband of over thirty years who has been a pillar of support for her as she recovered from her strokes. “He’s incredibly helpful and makes sure that I am careful. I think he’s even more excited about cycling today than I am!” she laughed. Steve chimed in, “I just love that this gives people with limited mobility the opportunity to do something different. I like to say ‘this-ability’ instead of ‘disability’ because it is important to focus on the abilities that you do have and make use of those skills.”
Before long, it was Nat’s turn to gear up and pedal out. “I like cycling, and I’m excited to give it a try for the first time in a long time,” she said. Accompanied by a REHAB buddy rider and her husband Steve jogging alongside to take photos, Nat joined the other participants making loops around Kapiolani Park. When she returned, she was all smiles. “I had a blast! It was really enjoyable and we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day,” she said. “It was a challenge using my left hand to steer the bike, but I did it and it was so fun!”
Encouraged by her experience at adaptive cycling, Nat looks forward to attending REHAB’s adaptive swim and rock climbing events in the future. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned,” Nat said, “it’s that you have to keep doing what you can and using what you have. And have a great partner to help you see it through.”