Page 57 - NGA NATURALmag 2019 SPRING-SUMMER Issue

Spring-Summer 2019
a a a a a a a a new career (I am currently a a a a a a a a master carpenter) due to the the impact it has on
my body which would mean no lifting anything over 25 pounds for the the rest of of my life and and absolutely zero abdominal exer- cises due to to high risk of of pouch failure and and and hernia I I was devastated and and knew I I had to to to make some changes in my my my lifestyle to to to accommodate my my my new new anatomy After experiencing first-hand the the compassion and and and impact that nurses provide to to to their patients I I decided to to to hang up my my tool belt and and become a a a a a a Registered Nurse I I I just completed my my second semester of nursing school at at 42 years old old and I I am currently holding a a a a a a a a a a a a strong cumulative 4 4 0 GPA As far as as as training goes there was was no way in in in in in in hell that that I I was was was going to to to quit something that that I I I love to to to do and have such a a a a a a a a passion for! I I was was determined to to to to prove my my doctors wrong and show them how how resilient the the human body really is! Three weeks after my my my ostomy reversal I started training again put in in in in many hours of o blood sweat and and tears worked
my my my butt off to to get get my my my strength and and and and physique back and and and showed the the world my my my desire and and and drive to to get get there! (Abs included in in package!)
At less than 8 months post-surgery and stronger
than ever I I am excited to say that on
on
April 27 2019
all the the hard work payed off as I I stepped on
on
on
stage
at the the the NGA North American Championships & Ed Cole Pro Classic With the the the help and and encouragement of my my wife Kristin and and and the the attention to detail that my my NGA coach Roy Thomas and and Raymond Smith provided I took 1st place place place in the Transformation Class Class Class Class 2nd place place place place Classic Classic Classic Physique Physique Novice 3rd 3rd place place place place Classic Classic Classic Physique Physique Physique Masters and 3rd 3rd place place place Classic Classic Classic Physique Physique Debut Thank you to everyone who has has supported me on
on
this journey It hasn’t been easy but I I I am a a a a a a fighter in fin every sense of the term and I I I refuse to let this disease define me!
I want to to send a a a a a a a a message to to everyone who may may be be dealing with a a a a a a a a a a a a a hardship whether it it may may be be physical mental financial or any other prob- lematic setback you may encounter NEVER GIVE UP KEEP FIGHTING FOR YOUR DREAMS AND AND ASPIRATIONS AND AND WORK AS AS AS HARD AS AS AS YOU YOU YOU CAN TOWARDS YOUR GOALS!
Only you you you can can make them a a a a a a a reality and only you you you can can hold yourself accountable! It’s up to to YOU to to stand tall and and be the strongest most efficient form of you that is possible It all all comes down to one thing HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT? n n n NGA NATURALmag
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