CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE FALL ISSUE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER | Page 118

Behind a beautiful smile we can Juan: Hello Jamie! It is such I had intravenous lines
often find an unbelievable a pleasure to be chatting coming out of my chest and
journey we never imagined. with you. Please tell us arms. The doctors told my
Every time I go to a about yourself, your health parents I was very sick and
bodybuilding show and see the history as a child and how it because of my age and size, I
hundreds of athletes on stage, I impacted your life. was a very high risk of not
try to imagine all the effort and Jamie: My name is Jamie making it.
energy that went into that Schnurr. I am 19 years old I had high doses of
person being on stage looking and I live in Guelph, Ontario. chemotherapy intravenously
their absolute best. From the I attend Conestoga College in and also chemotherapy into
perfect make up, to the nearly Kitchener where I am my spine!
fat free physique, to the greatly studying nursing and work as During this time, my mom
defined muscle bellies, it seems a lifeguard over the summer. stopped working and my dad
as if this person is almost When I was 10 months old, came to Hamilton every day.
perfect. Behind every my mom took me to the I was in McMaster Hospital
competitor though, is a doctor for a routine check- for 3 months and here I had
fantastic story. I first saw Jamie up. She showed the doctor a my 1st birthday and learned
at the CPA Absolute Touch strange bruise on the top of to walk.
Crush Cancer Classic event as my foot and he could also When I was released, I still
she was taking the spotlight feel that I had an enlarged had to visit McMaster 1-2x
award. I could definitely tell spleen. per week for chemotherapy
there was a lot of hard work After some quick bloodwork, and had plenty of medication
behind obtaining this great I was diagnosed with Acute to take at home. This
physique, but I never imagined Lymphoblastic Leukemia and continued for 2 years and I
that at just 19 years old, the was on my way to McMaster was finally done treatment
things that Jamie had Children’s Hospital that shortly before my 3rd
experienced in her life already. same day (May 29, 2000).  birthday.
I had the privilege of My parents were in shock, During the time of my
interviewing Jamie and was their entire world stopped. treatment my sister Jillian
inspired by how brave and They lived in gut wrenching was born on May 23, 2001.
strong she has been despite fear and had to stay strong many health scares. every day to help me
survive.