John Woloski may have suffered a stroke, but he didn’t lose his positive spirit. The principal and former music teacher had spent decades educating students in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Although life took a turn for John after enduring a complex CVA – he still found a way to “shake things up” in the hospital. It involved a group of physical therapists, some walkers, and a little “All About That Bass.”
57-year-old John had been at work (on a typical day) when suddenly his life changed.
He explained to news station WNEP:
“I started to become a little confused and I started to get a little headache.”
After going to the school nurse it was realized that John had suffered a stroke. Everything moved very quickly and soon he was barely responsive and didn’t even recognize his wife.
The principal was sent to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center where he was in good hands. Eventually, though, he was released to Allied Services Heinz Rehabilitation Hospital.
During his 9-week rehab program, the staff soon learned about John’s love for music and experience with teaching it. He too figured out that one of the employees was an instructor in dance.
Physical therapist supervisor, Jennifer Fox, told WNEP:
“So one of the things that we did with him was we decided to introduce music into his program. And as soon as we turned the music on, he was instantly improved.”
Then one day, the brilliant idea to create a dance performance was agreed upon. It would be both fun, as well as a way for John to work on his muscle strength, balance, and coordination.
Members of the rehabilitation facility were happy to get involved. Lauren Algar choreographed the routine – with Trish Lepore, Jenn Evans, and Ann Louise Wojnarski all learning the dance too.
The video was also in honor of Stroke Awareness. With John standing in the middle of the three ladies (who were holding onto walkers), he announces:
“We’re going to do a dance for you. Now, we worked really hard on this, to do this for you.”
Suddenly, Megan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” starts playing through the speakers. That’s how you know it’s going to be one entertaining dance!
All together they shake their hips and use their walkers as props to bust a move. John even shows that he can “shake it, shake it” with his rump (with a little assistance, of course).
People in the background bust out laughing at their light-hearted dance. At one point, John the patient performs a “wild solo” proving how far he’s come in his program. It’s impossible not to smile watching them.
The internet fell in love with their “All About That Bass” routine, which went viral. On the video’s description it says:
“His discharge to our Home Health team did not occur without producing this special video… Maybe it was because of his love of music after decades of teaching music education in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, then Principal of Solomon/Plains Junior High School? Maybe it was his positive outlook and commitment to physical rehabilitation? Maybe it was his appreciation of the expert therapists, nurses, social workers and entire staff? Enjoy & Share this inspiring video.”
It’s a performance that’s brightening people’s days. What a kind-hearted staff, not to mention, what an inspiration John is!
Press play below to watch them all “shake it, shake it.”
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