A Caboolture father is reclaiming his independence after becoming one of the first stroke patients at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital to use a one-armed wheelchair, funded by the Buderim Foundation.

Forty-one-year-old Matt Armstrong, who is a vinyl floorer by trade, suffered a stroke five months ago after an infection caused blood clots, and doctors had to remove a piece of his brain. 

He lost all feeling in the left side of his body and is unable to move around by himself in a regular wheelchair, but now with the new equipment he can move freely and without assistance.

“Since I only have one hand to use it, it makes it extremely easy, and it gives me freedom by getting mobility back without someone else being there with you,” Matt said.

In late 2025, Matt was released from hospital, and while there is a long road to recovery, the one-armed wheelchair, and his health care team has helped improve his symptoms.

“I’m doing a lot of physio which includes stretching, practicing my stepping and walking, and trying to get my hip and arm to work again,” Matt said.

“I’ve also visited Veronika at Wishlist Centre who does free Healing Hands sessions, and I don’t know what she does but she’s magical.

“After my first session with her, I got a lot of feeling back in my fingers which I never had, so that was really good, I hope I can go back to her weekly now.”