CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE FALL ISSUE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER | Page 122

I was very quickly booked for a (I was a lifeguard and physically active to this day.
surgery to remove my 1st rib by swimming instructor) That time made me realize
my clavicle that was because I wasn’t to be how much most of us take
compressing the vessels that putting my arm over my our health for granted. My
pass through that opening each head. I felt my level of unlucky experiences have
time I raised my arm. During physical fitness seriously made me appreciate my
that surgery my right lung decline over the months. I health every day and have
collapsed and I ended up having had mixed emotions of anger motivated me more than ever
an emergency chest tube which and depression. I felt anger to get myself to the gym. It
ended up being the worst part towards the doctors and my was not until this year of
about waking up in the recovery parents for telling me I could 2019 that I decided to
room. not participate in sports. I compete. I always had it in
My arm has improved since the felt that this was so unfair.... the back of my mind but
surgery but the circulation is
never pushed myself to do it.
not ever going to be totally Juan: After this, how did you I’ve had many people come to
normal and I still have come to fall in love with me in the gym asking if I was
numbness in my tricep from building your body and competing. My answer had
some nerve damage, but this saying "I want to do a always been “not right now”
does not bother me too much. show!"? or “I’m not sure.”
When I was diagnosed with the Jamie: When I was fully In March of 2019 is when I
blood clot, I was very active in recovered, I was basically told myself I was going to do
sports in high school. I was on done high school. I missed a show. I was tired of not
the wrestling team, I was also out on the last bit of sports having an excuse to not do
on the soccer team and cross so I turned to the gym. I fell one and thought it would be
country running team. I was in love with the way the gym the perfect time. I emailed
told I had to stop all contact made me feel. It was Eiren Guley and he happily
sports because of the potential challenging. I never want to agreed to coach me for my
for serious bleeding from the feel the way that I felt during first prep. I got started right
blood thinning medication. I recovery, so I do my very best away as I was already going
became very depressed. I to stay healthy and to be 11 weeks out from the
couldn’t even go swimming
show.