After surviving his accident and enduring years of rehabilitation, John Robertson did something remarkable: he built a life. He bought a house, became a landlord, started businesses, and worked his way up from factory floor to foreman. This is the story of how one man refused to let disability stop him from achieving his dreams.
The Settlement
After six or seven years, John received a settlement from his accident: $14,000. It was an insultingly small amount, he was told, because there was no “no-fault” insurance in 1984, and he had alcohol in his blood.
But John didn’t let the injustice stop him. He took that money and bought an investment property—a large Victorian home in Sarnia with apartments on every floor.
Becoming a Landlord
The house had:
- Two bachelor apartments in the basement
- One apartment on the main floor
- A one-bedroom apartment upstairs
John lived on the main floor and rented out the other units. He became an accidental landlord, learning as he went. “I was happy, but I wasn’t, if you know what I mean,” he writes. “I started looking for things to make my house better.”
The DIY Ethic
John’s sheet metal training proved invaluable. He renovated extensively:
- Upgraded the basement apartments with new drywall
- Installed a new furnace and air-conditioning system
- Added pot lights and wiring
- Insulated the entire basement
- Created a beautiful living space
He did much of the work himself, sometimes trading labor for rent reductions. His friends Bob and Chuck helped with the heavy lifting, working for beer.
From Factory to Foreman
John’s career path was anything but linear:
- Sheet metal worker: His trade, which he’d excelled in before the accident
- Factory worker: Making exhaust systems for trucks
- Supervisor: Running an afternoon shift in Ridgetown
- Manager: Setting up a new factory from scratch in Tilbury
- Car hauler: Transporting vehicles across Ontario
- Garbage hauler: Driving trucks from Toronto to London
- Dump truck driver: Hauling road salt and gravel
- Construction foreman: Running major HVAC projects
The Funeral Home Projects
One of John’s proudest achievements was managing the HVAC installation for funeral homes across Ontario. The work included:
- A 30,000-square-foot funeral home in Brampton
- Another in Oakville
- A 70,000-square-foot, two-story funeral home in Vaughn
The inspector was so impressed with John’s work in Brampton that he asked to take pictures for an HVAC magazine. The engineer told John he’d done a “nice job.” The owner of the company was so pleased that John’s work helped him afford to buy a new house for his family.
The Challenges
John’s brain injury made work harder in ways people didn’t understand:
- Balance issues: Climbing ladders and scaffolding was dangerous
- Memory problems: Forgetting to put decks down on car hauling trucks
- Impulse control: Saying things to supervisors that cost him jobs
- Physical limitations: Injuries from heavy lifting
The Rotator Cuff Injury
While working at Victoria Hospital in London, John tore his rotator cuff. He’d lifted a heavy sound muffler with two other guys and felt his shoulder “explode in pain.” The injury required surgery and months of recovery. He never received proper therapy afterward.
The Knee Replacements
Later, John needed both knees replaced. The cartilage in his knees was gone from decades of physical labor. He ended up having two separate surgeries, each requiring months of recovery.
The Lung Disease
The most recent challenge is lung disease. John was exposed to asbestos, cement dust, and other airborne particles during his decades of work. Tests showed his lung capacity at just 51%. He was put on steroids to reduce swelling in his chest, but the steroids will eventually destroy his internal organs.
What John’s Career Teaches Us
John’s work history shows:
- Resilience in the face of rejection: He was laid off, fired, and let go multiple times
- Adaptability: He learned new skills and took on new challenges
- Pride in workmanship: He took pride in his work and strove for excellence
- The cost of hard work: Physical labor took a toll on his body
- The invisibility of disability: People didn’t understand his challenges
The Man Behind the Work
John’s career is a testament to his refusal to give up. “I have accomplished a lot in my life because my family didn’t give up on me and I didn’t give up either,” he writes. “I know it is going to be tough, but in many ways, it’s worth it.”
Conclusion
John Robertson built a life from the ashes of a catastrophic accident. He didn’t let his brain injury define him. He bought property, started businesses, and worked his way up from factory floor to construction foreman. His story is a reminder that disability doesn’t mean inability. It just means the path is different—harder, sometimes, but still possible to walk.
