Brain surgery success: Coast helps young dad recover

OVERWHELMING support from friends and strangers is helping a popular Coast man recover from life-changing brain surgery.

CHANGE: Kawana Dolphins legend Paul Cohen's life changed dramatically after a series of mini-strokes. Picture: Facebook

OVERWHELMING support from friends and strangers is helping a popular Coast footballer recover from life-changing brain surgery.

Former Kawana Dolphins star and respected family man Paul Cohen is back at home recovering from an extracranial to intracranial bypass, after being diagnosed with one closed artery and another half-closed artery in his brain.

He suffered a series of mini-strokes which alerted doctors to the issue and he underwent surgery only three weeks ago in Sydney.

Cohen, a tough competitor, keen surfer and active man said he was now adjusting to a massive lifestyle change.

Local rugby league, Kawana v's Maroochydore at Kawana:Kawana's Paul Cohen.Photo: Brett Wortman / Sunshine Coast Daily. Picture: Brett Wortman

He's unable to drive at the moment and will learn more about that when he sees his team of specialists in Sydney again in three weeks for a follow-up consultation.

Contact sport has been ruled out for him for good and he'll wait to learn exactly what level of activity he can do, given he said he's effectively got an exposed artery on the left side of his head.

Cohen said the surgery had been a success, but he'd underestimated just how testing it would be, and it was post-op that he'd realised just how important the support he and his family received had been.

"I've got plenty of support. It's quite ridiculous," he said.

"I really underestimated it (the operation).

"I was really buoyed and so well supported emotionally... looking back, that just helped me so much."

He said while the decision not to play contact sport had been made for him, leaving him one game shy of 500 appearances for his beloved Dolphins, he was eager to learn what sort of fitness levels and sporting pursuits he could take up once he had recovered.

"It changes a fair bit," Cohen said.

The first few weeks of recovery were tough on Cohen. He lost his speech for a short time and walking took him time to get back up to speed.

FAMILY: Paul Cohen with his wife Casey and children Cooper 10 weeks and Mitchell 21 months, back in 2010. Mitchell will play his first game of footy for Kawana this weekend. Picture: Jason Dougherty

But now he's making some progress the goal spurring him on in recovery is to get around and individually thank everyone who helped him, his wife Casey and sons Mitchell and Cooper.

A crowdfunding page driven by Cohen's former coach and local newsreader Rob Brough raised more than $38,000 for the family to help ease financial pressures and allow Cohen to focus on his recovery.

Cohen said it had also enabled his boys to maintain a level of normality with their schooling and sport, which he said had helped enormously during a turbulent time.

"It was overwhelming," Cohen said.

"People I haven't even met (were donating to him).

"I'm so grateful."

Cohen said he was "so stoked" to be a part of the community.

"I really don't have words to describe how grateful we are," he said.

He said it was hard to comprehend how much life had changed in such a short space of time for his young family.

His club, Kawana, and rivals Maroochydore, are holding a major fundraiser this weekend.

It could be a tough path ahead with doctors continuing to monitor his half-closed artery to determine whether it too needs surgical intervention.

"I don't know how long the road ahead's going to be or what lays ahead," he said.

Mr Brough said it was "just wonderful" to see his good mate home in time to watch his son Mitchell play his first game of junior footy for the Dolphins on Saturday.

"He's been a wonderful contributor to the game and it will be terrific to see his little bloke playing for Kawana, the team he has represented so proudly over the years," Mr Brough said.

"There were so many unknowns associated with him going to have that surgery and, to be realistic, you're always worried there will be complications. I think that was what we all had a fear of, the fear of the unknown.

"Those of who know him well, you were concerned and worried about what the outcome might be, so to see him home now and interacting with his family is just beautiful."