Phillip Koss is no doctor.
But stroke victim Tania Radtke flew across the country for his treatment. It's been three years since a stroke paralyzed the entire left side of her body.
"I was split in half," she says.
But finally after years of trying everything, in the lobby of a roadside hotel in Waco, some results.
"Her muscle has held the blood in for three years since her stroke. When she got here," Koss started before an excited Tania jumps in, "my arm is like this and now it's loosened up!"
Phillip calls himself a motor skills specialist. He works with issues like strokes and MS. He says what sets him apart is that he first helps clients stretch, breathe and massage their limbs to regain feeling.
"Once you've got the sensation of feeling then you can re-learn to walk...the whole thing changes," he said.
Former clients spend time with current clients, to form a sort of support group with others who have experienced the same difficulties.
"Somewhere down along my leg he hit something...and he said 'now raise your leg.' And now I can raise my leg up to here (waist height) and this is the one that had the stroke!" said former client Johnnie Wooldridge.
"I cried," she continued, "it was just so impressive."
Retired Baylor professor Dr. Richard Couey is one of several local doctors who refer Phil his clients. Couey's a runner and used Phil for himself.
"He squeezed hard - I had tears in my eyes - but after he was through my neuroma was gone," he said about a pain in his foot that developed from running marathons.
After three days with two-hour morning and evening sessions, Tania can now pick up her foot on her own. And she's re-learning how to control the different sides of her body.
"I want him to move to California!" she said.
"Everyone tells me that," Phil laughed.
He charges $100 an hour. And teaches clients how to continue their strength training after their sessions are through.
Now, the wheelchair Tania came with sits forgotten in the corner of her hotel room. And she says after the full week with Phil in Waco she doesn't think she'll ever use it again.
For more information, visit www.stretchforlife.com
