By Moses Leos III
A chorus of cheers and raucous applause greeted 38-year-old Kyle native Robert Reyes as he reached the home stretch of Saturday’s “Run for the Love of It” 5K.
It was a moment that was unexpected for Reyes, who completed Saturday’s race roughly ten months after a stroke nearly robbed him of his mobility.
“I feel touched and lucky to even be here right now and have people outside of my family rooting me on in something [so] big in my life,” Reyes said.
Now on the road to recovery, Reyes hopes his story can bring inspiration to those who may be in a similar situation.
“I’m into gratitude right now,” Reyes said after completing the 5K course. “I don’t know how I can give back, but hopefully I can do or say something that can be a positive thing in people’s lives.”
Reyes, who grew up in Kyle and is a Hays High graduate, was living a normal life many other Austin residents his age were living.
Late nights, little sleep was normal for Reyes. So also were “vices.” He cited coffee, smoking and drinking.
In January 2015, Reyes was diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Three months later, on Apr. 10, 2015, Reyes suffered his stroke, which took away his ability to walk and talk normally.
“I was into late nights, little sleep, and now my life has taken a complete 180,” Reyes said. “I was basically reduced to zero.”
So began his arduous journey toward recovery. Reyes said he had to relearn how to walk and talk again. Other tasks, such as swallowing food or drinking water, also had to be relearned.
Joining him on his journey was his family, including his mother and brother, who stayed with him at his Austin home.
Friends also aided not only in his recovery, but assimilation back to home life. Reyes said they were able to build a wheelchair accessible ramp for him to enter his home.
“It was touching to see my whole group of friends come together for something that was just a good-hearted thing,” Reyes said. “I was lucky to be surrounded by positive people. No one let me feel sorry for myself.”
The largest motivation came from his personal trainer, who, over the course of several months, taught Reyes how to walk without assistance of a cane.
In addition, Reyes said he had to drastically change his lifestyle. He said dropping such vices as drinking alcohol and coffee helped him on his road to recovery.
“If I could go back, I would cut out the bad habits and vices and eat better, and try to be healthier,” Reyes said.
It was during his recovery that Reyes learned from a cousin that lived in the area about the 5K run. For Reyes, taking his first recovery steps near the place he once called home made the most sense.
“I figured, hey, I’ve got a second chance at everything, so I’ll take my first steps as an adult in the same area,” Reyes said.
Despite still having a slight limp, Reyes prepared to take on the 3.1-mile course.
Keeping pace with the pack was one of the challenges Reyes faced. While he said he was steady enough to walk, he admitted it was “tough.”
The undulating hills and depressions of the course, along with the knowledge he was “holding the course up” were also challenges.
But pushing him along was the want to gauge where he was in reocery.
“I wanted to get it done to see how far I’ve come along with recovery, so I know and gauge where I’m at,” Reyes said.
Reyes began to feel fatigue in one of his legs by the third mile. He had previously walked a similar length only twice before.
But with few obstacles in his way, Reyes pushed ahead toward the finish.
“I finished it and it’s the fastest pace I’ve walked thus far and it’s the farthest I’ve walked,” Reyes said. “It’s a double positive for me.”
For Reyes, the ability to finish the race now gives him a barometer of his abilities.
“It’s good to be insured and to have goals and that’s something that was definitely hard to come by,” Reyes said. “I think I took everything for granted.”
