CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE November/December 2020 | Page 27

how do you fight against something when you don ' t know what you are fighting ?
Juan : Wow . This is an absolutely incredible and traumatic experience . At any point , did you think it was your breasts causing this ? If not , what would you blame the symptoms on ?
Bella : At the time I didn ’ t know what was going on . I figured maybe I had a serious underlying condition . When I started talking to doctors , I realized that my immune system was shutting down but didn ’ t know why as I was so healthy . I had fibromyalgia already so I used bodybuilding and a healthy lifestyle to treat it , but I had never been this sick . When my clients / friends started telling me that breast implant illness was on the news and the same company under investigation with the FDA was the same brand I had in my body , I started doing some research . It all lined up and I got professional opinions to confirm .
Juan : What kept you pushing and going when things were getting really tough and you thought you were going to die ?
Bella : I love my life . Many people struggle with that . They don ’ t feel fulfilled or haven ’ t found their purpose or drive . I ’ ve survived a lot of trauma and I decided when I was younger to not let my ending be worse than my beginning . I created a life and worked hard for a life I love filled with the most incredible people , tons of laughter and experiences . I didn ’ t want to lose it . I knew there was a reason I was here - to help others . Most of all I wanted to fight to marry Chris and wanted to fight for my family .
Juan : How do you feel now with having them removed physically and emotionally ?
Bella : It was incredibly hard . At first you look deformed and your skin doesn ’ t look right . As a woman and a bodybuilder , it nearly broke me ; but I was alive . I healed . I have no symptoms now