15 years ago, my life took an unexpected turn that would change my future forever. I was 14 years old, had already secured a cheerleading scholarship, and was on my way to being awarded a soccer scholarship as well.
A week and a half into my freshman year of high school and that all came to a screeching halt. I don’t want to go too much into the details but I remember laying on the ground (my class was playing soccer, coincidentally) and not being able to feel my leg. I remember knowing that I had to risk getting up, probably injuring my leg further, before I got kicked in the head on top of everything else.
The doctors knew something was seriously wrong, but due to all of the internal bruising they couldn’t pinpoint the problem. It turned out that I had torn all the muscles around my knee, tore ligaments, and cracked the tips of both my femur and tibia.
6 months of crutches and different casts and braces and I was finally walking again. Another 6 months later, and I was being taken in for my first surgery, which would leave me in a wheelchair for 6 weeks with a hard cast from my hip to my ankle. Not to mention, another 6 month stint with the crutches.
It was at this point I was told I would probably never play sports again. I was crushed. Everything I worked so hard for had fallen apart right before my eyes. My scholarship was revoked as I couldn’t hold up my end to continue to cheer throughout H.S.
I missed all of 10th grade. Teachers came to my house for my lessons, but that was about it. I was living in a completely different world then every one of my friends.
Talk about being miserable.
Eventually, I moved on and graduated. I turned my passion for sports into a passion for theater and music. I was booking shows, promoting for bands, and working on getting into a private acting college in NYC.
2 months into this incredible school, and it happened again. My knee did something ‘off’ during movement class and it left me in tears. I wound up having to leave as I would not be able to complete my movement class, and 6 months later I was going in for another surgery. This surgery confirmed arthritis and lots of dead cartilage. They also said it was highly possible I would need a replacement down the road.
At this point, frustration was not even close to how I felt. My knee was interfering with every part of my life that was important to me. I gave up, for a very long time. I would go to the gym for two weeks and stop. I didn’t know what in the world to go to school for and kept switching schools and majors. Eventually I settled in a bit and became the founder of a sorority in NY. I focused all of my attention on that or working. I gained weight, I lost weight, I gained more back. I partied and was out almost every night, all night.
At 23, the pain in my knee came back with a vengeance. I could barley walk, and the cold NY winters killed me. Another new surgery is scheduled. This time they planned to take a hamstring from the back of my leg to replace a ligament. I was lucky and the ligament was still healthy, so they just used metal clamps to re-attach it to my knee cap.
This doctor informed me I had major muscle atrophy in my thigh. I was heavier than I ever had been and stopped spending time in the gym all together. I was dealing with a lot of family and personal issues, and I was at a low.
This low went on through my move to Las Vegas, and eventually, California where I am now.
It wasn’t until I was 28 that I became truly dedicated and motivated to change my life. I had lost and kept off majority of the weight I gained. I found my passion again, and it was finally for the gym. For health and fitness. I knew I couldn’t let this now 15 year old injury continue to control my life. I had a goal that I was determined to reach.
Funny thing about goals, the closer you get to them the more they change.
I had to rebuild my leg muscles from practical mush. I had to push myself. No one was going to do it for me. I knew that I needed to take back control. That I was allowing my life and experiences to be limited to how my knee would act.
I knew I had to be own cheerleader.
And now, as I write this at 29 years old and recovering from my 4th surgery on this knee, these statements hold truer than ever. I am working my dream job in my dream company. I have managed to keep off 35 lbs. I have learned how tasty healthy food is. I have become involved in support systems to help keep me going, and do the same for others. Seeing someone else reaching the goals I have pushes me harder. Even with the current state of my knee, I am in better physical and mental health than I have ever been. I know I will get through and I am much more positive about the outcome than any previous other surgery.
Self motivation is not easy. It is not a one way street. You will fall and fail, but those failures will contribute to your overall success. It may take longer than you think it should, but you will get there. You will reach a goal and be hungry for more.
The hardest thing to do is to focus on you. On your well being. On your health, on your happiness. My best advice is to take it a day at a time. Spend a hour a day for you and only you. Find your passion, whatever it might be, and go for it. Go for a run, read a book, enjoy time outdoors, paint, sing, anything!
I promise you will never look selfish and I promise you will not regret it.
With Love,
Your Ambassador- Nora
Nora
Nora is 29 years old and lives in Southern California. Originally from NJ & NY, her passion for sports came at a young age. She played a variety of sports, including cheerleading, until a knee injury at 14 ended her career. After her 3rd knee surgery at 24, she gained weight and was heavier than ever before. At 28, and after bouncing back and forth in weight for years, she found her passion for sports again. This time it was in the gym. Finally dropping 35 lbs and keeping it off, she became dedicated to continuing to change and improve her life.
She now loves helping others find their motivation to get healthy and fit!