Inverness resident Tony Romaine has resumed his music career despite suffering a stroke two years ago that left him unable to speak or walk. Romaine taught himself to play the guitar one-handed and spent seven months recovering in hospital, during which he had to relearn how to walk, talk and eat. In August he returned to the stage for the first time since his stroke, and Romaine is now planning further shows, with hopes of playing an hour and a half.
Romaine, who has performed regularly around Inverness, had played a couple of gigs despite feeling ill but started having difficulty moving after ordering takeaway food. Several hours later he was unable to move or speak. His wife Lynn found him the next morning and called an ambulance, but doctors could not break up the clot that caused the stroke.
Initially, Tony’s targets involved learning to walk again, but he was soon keen to pick up his guitar despite his left arm and hand being out of action. He started re-learning the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby”, which he simplified to make it easier to play, and is now working on new material. In August the song “Standing Stone” was released on streaming services and Romaine gave a 30-minute performance at the Rose Street Foundry in Inverness.
Romaine is fundraising for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland – which helped him with his rehabilitation – and the Oxygen Works charity in Inverness. He is keen to support people who might be close to giving up after experiencing an event like his own: “I want people to know that you can come through this,” he said
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