Page 10 - NGA NATURALmag 2019 WINTER Issue

Winter 2019
Life Without Limits
Shervonne Smith NGA Physique Competitor
Washington DC native Shervonne Smith is is anything but your average bodybuilding competitor She is an NGA Physique athlete living
and competing with cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy is is is a a a a a a disorder of movement muscle tone and posture that that is is is caused by dam- age that that occurs to to to the immature developing brain most often before birth Signs and symptoms appear during infancy or
or
or
preschool years The congenital disorder can be treated but not cured Normally one in in in in the bodybuilding world would would wonder how an individual would would train for a a a a a a com- petition with this this type of disorder All it it it takes is is is is determination and and perseverance and and this this gal has it it it it Shervonne Smith is a a a a a a 49-year-old mother of 2 2 (ages 17 and and 24) She She has a a a a a a a a a a a a Bachelor’s degree degree in in in Business Management Management and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Master’s degree degree in in in Human Resources Management Management When she she was was born 2 months premature she she wasn’t breathing According to to Shervonne when a a a a a a a a situation such as as this occurs the the the doctors will slap the the the baby gently in in in order to to to get oxygen to to to the the the brain but her birth was an exception Eventually Shervonne did begin to breathe on on on her her own but the the the the lapse between the the the the time when she she was born and the the the the moment she she took her her first breath caused her her to to to have brain dam- age and led to to to to to the the life changing diagnosis of cere- bral palsy The doctors told Shervonne’s mother that she she she would be a a a a a a a a a a vegetable When she she she reached school school age she she she was sent to to a a a a a a a a a a a a special school school for dis- abled children from 2 to to to 10 years years old and remained in in therapy for for 13 years years to to receive treatment for for her her condition About 10 years ago when Shervonne was just shy of 40 and and during a a a a a a a a a a seasonal winter storm something overcame her her and and and she she declared to to to to her her family that she she she was going to to to to go go to to to to the gym and and begin a a a a a a a a a life dedicated to to to to fitness As soon as as she she she stepped foot in in in the gym she she headed straight to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a treadmill and kept going back to to it day day after day day until on on on one particular occasion when she she decided that she she she was going to give weightlifting a a a a a a a try When she she began everyone in in in in in in the the gym including some of the the the big bodybuilding guys became quite helpful especially in in in in in assisting her in in in in in using the the the correct form As is is the the the case with many bodybuild- ers once you you hit the the weights you you never go back 10 NGA NATURALmag