John Stumbo, former Salem Hospital patient and Salem Alliance Church pastor, is the inspirational speaker for “Rehabilitation: A transforming experience” on Thursday, Sept. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Chemeketa Community College Salem Auditorium.

Stumbo will speak at 7 p.m. followed by a dialogue/Q&A at 8 p.m. He will sign books from 8:30 to 9 p.m. The Salem Auditorium is in Building 6 with convenient parking in the adjacent lot. The doors will open at 6 p.m.

John went from being a healthy 47-year-old, running ultra-marathons to being hospitalized for 77 days, half in Salem and half in ICU at OHSU, for a mysterious illness that at one point was called the “Stumbo Syndrome.”

From standing for the first time after six weeks of being bedridden, to dressing, driving and swallowing, John will discuss his very personal medical and spiritual journey about perseverance, hope and a rehabilitation that never ends.

John Stumbo, and his wife Joanna, are the authors of the autobiography “An Honest Look at a Mysterious Journey.” John recently completed his doctorate in Leadership and the Emerging Culture and began working with Alliance Northwest as their Acting District Superintendent.

The event, sponsored by the Salem Hospital Regional Rehabilitation Center as part of Rehabilitation Week, is free. To register, visit salemhealth.org/chec or call 503-814-CHEC (2432). You can also register for free rehab week classes including Safe driving: Assessments, strategies and training on Tuesday, September 25, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Adaptive cooking: Transforming your ability on Wednesday, September 26, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Regional Rehabilitation Center is located in Salem and is a part of Salem Health, along with Salem Hospital, West Valley Hospital and other affiliated health care organizations offering exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. Other Salem Health rehabilitation sites are located in Dallas and Monmouth. Visit us at salemhealth.org and facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter: @salemhealth; and view us at youtube.com/salemhealth.