Laurentian student living with polio is being called an inspiration
At the age of three, Koko Blaise was diagnosed with polio.
He said he faced many challenges back home over the years, including not having access to a wheelchair.
“I got paralyzed when I was three years old. I heard of this story from my Mom. She taught me how to walk with a stick on my legs. I got my first wheelchair when I got to university, when I was a freshmen, to where I sit in a wheelchair to enjoy how a wheelchair can help a disabled person,” Blaise said.
One of the reasons why he chose to move to Sudbury was because it’s a bilingual city and to continue his education, Blaise told CTV News.
Blaise is currently studying biochemistry at Laurentian University (LU), and says he is hoping to work in the medical field once he graduates.
Blaise decided to try out para-rowing at LU.
“It’s amazing, get up early in the morning, come in here be active and see that this program can help a person, and also to improve my life,” Blaise said.
Thomas Merritt, the parasports rowing head coach, said Blaise has been a great addition to the team.
“It’s been fantastic to have him on the team. He comes into rowing as a novice rower but he has literally decades of experience in sports,” said Merritt.Thomas Merritt, the parasports rowing head coach, said Blaise has been a great addition to the team. (Supplied by Thomas Merritt)“We set him up, we go through the basics of the stroke and then we transition onto a boat back in June. So, it’s been a lot of fun just to make that transition with an athlete… Anytime you get an athlete on the water for the first time there’s that excitement of this is the first time that we’re able to do that.”
A few years ago, Blaise decided to become an advocate for people with disabilities.
Over the course of five years, Blaise was able to host many initiatives to help purchase over a hundred wheelchairs for others living with disabilities back home in Africa.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.