Tag: story

I may have always been an athlete. But since moving to Toronto to be a personal trainer and fitness expert I’ve had many ups and downs in my life on my personal fitness journey. Big set backs continuously seemed to occur. They always needed up preventing me from reaching my fitness goals each time. However never did I get down on myself. I always picked myself up each and every time and kept going. I did not complain and I did not blame anyone or anything for my circumstances.

First I had a full and complete ACL tear. When this happened at the same time I also ended up rupturing my meniscus while fracturing the tibia at its plateau. It took me over a month post op to even be able to do a full cycle on a pedal bike. I had to have a second surgery less than a year later to remove scar tissue and shots of synvisc (a synthetic synovial fluid) as well. To this day I still don’t have full range of motion. Did this stop me? No. Does it prevent me from doing anything? No. Do I use it as an excuse? No.

Then the following spring I was on my way to coach my track team and a cab driver cut me off as I was riding my motorcycle through an intersection. I t-boned him and flew over the cab. Hit my knee that I had the ACL repair on pretty bad, got whip lash, hurt my back, got road rash and also had my hand caught in the street car track as I was sliding. Did this stop me? No. Does it prevent me from doing anything? No. Do I use it as an excuse? No.

Finally, as I was still going through physio for my motorcycle accident I had some crazy symptoms.The biggest and most obvious one was that I was exhausted all day long and had no energy (very unusual for me). So I went to the doctor and they did some scans and said you have to go to emergency now! I still had no idea why. They admitted me and performed an emergency surgery to remove a mass of cells in my stomach. This mass was very rare. And no it wasn’t cancer. From September until November I had to have blood work every week to monitor my body and make sure it didn’t come back. And it came back. Again very rare. Based on where it was my only option was chemotherapy. I had 7 rounds before I got to ring the bell that I completed my chemo! Wahoo! The whole time I kept on training my clients and I even began my very first prep while still undergoing chemo. The chemo made me very puffy and swollen but I didn’t get down on myself. I honestly didn’t even tell many people. Did this stop me? No. Does it prevent me from doing anything? No. Do I use it as an excuse? No.

I hope that you realize that sometimes the journey can be hard and tiring. There may be obstacles in your way but persevere, follow the plan, find a support system and be honest! Good things will happen and your consistency will pay off! Don’t give up and don’t let anyone or any circumstance bring you down!

Panamania Presents PUSH - A Tangled Art + Disability Production

During the Parapan  Am Games I was lucky enough to receive an invite from Rockit Promotions to attend Panamania Presents PUSH - A Tangled Art + Disability Production. The production was presented by Panamanian present by CIBC and in association with Ping Chong + Company. Ryerson University also supported the production.

Upon arrival I learned that Tangled Art + Disability is a registered charitable organization that is dedicated to the advancement of artists with disabilities and to enhancing access to arts and culture for all. It was founded in 2003 as Abilities Arts Festival, Tangled has produced 12 multidisciplinary arts festivals employing local and international disability-identified artists, while engaging new and returning artists and audiences with year round programming.

It was amazing that the whole theatre was wheel chair assessable. This made it easy for everyone to enter and be seated in the theatre. Unlike many other theatres which aren't as easily accessible.

The entire cast were Parapan Am athletes who had amazing stories of trial and triumph to tell us. The production also went through and told us detailed history about how the Para Games came about. I cried, I laughed, I empathized but most of all I was inspired by each of their stories. Push gets a 10/10 from me. I wanted to go a second time it was that good.

Push! Real Athletes. Real Stories. Real Theatre was part of an ongoing series of community-specific oral history theater works known as the Undesirable Elements series. The script is based on interviews with the participants who then share their own true stories in the final production.

Prepformers/Parapan Am Athletes:

Sarai Demers (Downhill Skier)

Jenna Lambert (Swimmer)

Victoria Nolan (Rowing)

Paul Rosen (Sledge Hockey)

Martha Sandoval Gustafson (Athletics)

Jody Schloss (Horseback Riding)

I was given the opportunity to interview one of the performers Jody Schloss from the production. She is a grade 1A competitor, and gained recognition as a disable athlete in her late 30's. Jody lost her ability to walk and talk when she sustained a brain injury in a car accident that left her in a 3-month long coma. After years of physical rehabilitation and regaining her independence Jody has since become a fierce competitor and made her Paralympic debut in London, 2012.

How did you get involved in theatrics/push?

Katie contacted me by email last summer, I knew I wasn't able to participate as an athlete in the Para PanAm games because there are no Para Dressage events but I still wanted to be involved. I thought it would be fun to do the play with other athletes that have encountered similar obstacles as I have.