Coun. Gord Fuller says he hopes to "ease back" into his civic duties by the end of this month after a cardiac arrest in January put him on life support.
Fuller, who was released from hospital on Feb. 19, has been at home recovering since the episode, one which many expected he would not pull through.
"I'm getting there, I'm not feeling too bad, but I get tired easily," he said. He added he is still in pain from some cracked ribs that resulted from CPR being performed on him.
"All in all, everyone is quite surprised by how well I'm doing," Fuller said.
Indeed, Fuller's initial prognosis was dim. Doctors gave him about a 10 per cent chance for pulling through. Brain and organ damage were also feared.
Fuller was found slumped over the steering wheel of a van at a red light on Jan. 25. Fuller had been on his way to pick up some folding tables from a community event the night before.
The man in the car behind him got out to investigate why the van wasn't moving when the light changed. By sheer coincidence, that man was Randy Cobb, an old acquaintance of Fuller's from several decades ago. Cobb performed CPR until emergency crews arrived.
Fuller blames a hectic schedule and other factors for his medical emergency. He expects to lighten his load in the coming months.
"I think it was a combination of issues," he said. "Smoking, general eating habits, stress."
"I think it all built up."
It was especially poor timing for Fuller, who was elected to council for the first time in November after trying for more than a decade.
But a silver lining of the otherwise horrible experience was the genuine flood of public support upon news of his hospitalization.
An online GoFundMe campaign has raised $8,220 so far to help cover some of Fuller's cost while he recovers. A local radio station hosted a show dedicated to
Fuller. A beer and burger night is also planned for March 13 at The Queens nightclub, owned by fellow city councillor Jerry Hong. Fuller admits to being taken aback by the outpouring of well wishes.
"When something like this happens, you realize the impact you've had," he said. "Once I started hearing about the level of support, I would be in tears."
Fuller is resting at home alone, but his stepson and his stepson's wife live on the property. His friend Terry Lee Wagar is walking Fuller's dog Attila.
Fuller said he has been equipped with a heart monitor and is due to get further tests.
"It'll all depend on what the doctors say," Fuller said when asked when he expects to be able to gradually resume work. "I don't want to rush things right now, but I think the end of March might be a probable time to get back to (the) council thing."
Until that time, Fuller said he has kept up on local issues through reading council agendas and minutes. He said he was pleased by council's decision to withhold funding for the Empire Day Celebrations Society, adding he has long argued the name should be changed to be more inclusive of others. He said he is thinks the May long weekend celebrations can still be saved.
He also wants his fellow councillors to not make a decision on the Colliery dams, adding the city needs more detailed information on flood modelling. For now, he is just relieved to be out of hospital, despite high praise for the staff.
"They were great at the hospital, but the food leaves something to be desired," he said.
