The scar – from his neck to his waist – is a reminder of the nine back-related surgeries John Kraklio has endured.
That is right, nine…
What the gnarly looking scar does not show is Kraklio’s determination, his will, an engaging mega-watt personality and an intense dedication to getting better.
And he has a team – an entire Rock Valley Physical Therapy clinic – on his side.
Mention his name and you will hear: “Love him.’’ “Special, Special man.’’ “Just amazing what he has done.’’
On this day, Kraklio is in the knowledgeable, compassionate, and caring hands of Rock Valley’s Amber Voss, PT, DPT, who like Kraklio, is a laugh-a-minute type with a Texas-sized heart. The two are in the DeWitt (Iowa) Fitness Center swimming pool, working – and benefiting from – all that is aquatic therapy.
Forever upbeat and dedicated to her craft, Voss, who began her Rock Valley career as a technician while doing her post-graduate work at St. Ambrose University, added aquatic therapy to her professional tool belt in July of 2024. Two days a week, Voss spends her afternoons bettering the lives of patients using aquatic therapy.
“I cannot tell you how great the DeWitt Community Center has been when it comes to this,” Voss said. “We so appreciate them on many fronts.’’
On this wind-swept winter’s day, Kraklio, a man of a thousand talents, whose most recent – and hugely invasive surgery was in May of 2024 – is bettering his quality of life – and recovery – with Voss in the pool.
Often used in conjunction with land-based therapies for the treatment, management, and recovery of various conditions, aquatic therapy combines water’s buoyant, soothing properties to offer less resistance making it ideal for patients with pain and difficulty performing certain exercises.
According to Voss, aquatic therapy helps with balance and coordination, reduces stress on joints and bones, builds muscle strength and endurance, increases aerobic capacity, and improves joint flexibility.
Kraklio, who has also benefited from land-based therapy with Rock Valley’s Dana Trenkamp, Clinic Manager, PT, DPT, CMT, is proof aquatic therapy works. Both Voss and Kraklio – sporting wide grins – agree that he is getting better via land and sea.
On this day, Kraklio, who has returned to the DeWitt area after many years in Arizona, works – in step – with Voss in a variety of water-based exercises. He begins with a walk in the pool for two lengths, followed by a bevy of balance-related exercises. Voss also puts Kraklio through a thorough band-resistance/core- strengthening circuit before reaching the fun part of the day. Kraklio deftly works a beach ball overhead pass off the pool’s wall before a series of step-ups on the pool’s edge conclude their work together.
Throughout their time in the water, Voss challenged – in a positive manner – Kraklio, and Kraklio – without complaint – responded. He answered the bell for every exercise and its corresponding benefit. Post-exercise, Voss and Kraklio laugh and share stories they have known each other for decades.
“John is dedicated to getting better,” Voss said. “This is just another step in that process. He is a wonderful man, awesome to talk with. He is so caring. With what he has been through, just to be dedicated to getting better, is amazing. I love that he gives everything to what we do here. He will admit that he is tired when he leaves and I like that, because I can see the work he is putting in. The water is so beneficial for John.’’
Everyone has someone in their circle of friends they can ask anything – directions on building something, sound life advice, the right way to handle a project. Kraklio is that guy. An amazing listener with tremendous life experience, Kraklio’s kindness is his calling card.
“You know, I’ve been dealing with this thing (back) for a lot of years,’’ Kraklio said, understating the severity of what he has been through. “And I have a pretty good gauge on who is good at what they do and who really is not. Dana (Trenkamp) and Amber are without question the best I have ever come across. We would be here awhile if I shared everything. They simply know what they are doing, and they are kind and always looking out for my best interest. They explain everything to me. Amber is so thorough with all this (aquatic therapy) and explains why we are doing it and the goal for every exercise. Of course, they both hold me to task. “Move it or lose it,” as they say. I cannot say enough about how great they are.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller