for 25 years. just remembered i had like a mild headache. the world was spinning. it was as if something had just exploded. >> reporter: john was rushed to the hospital. his diagnosis, a stroke. >> i was speaking but it was just gibberish and i lost sight in the right eye. >> reporter: he had trouble with both balance and coordination. mcelroy soon lost his job. the stroke, it seemed, took everything. >> i was thinking like, you know, what can i do? i'm too young. >> reporter: a chance conversation with a nurse rekindled his childhood dream. >> and then she said you'd make a fantastic nurse. i wanted to be a nurse when i was younger. >> reporter: after 25 years in a brick factory and a stroke, nursing school was tough. >> i can't tell you how many times i thought i wanted to stop. >> reporter: but he didn't. he earned his degree and he became a nurse. >> you're doing really well.