Big warriors come in small packages

Came back from lunch, wrapped up in my usual routine, started to walk upstairs to my office.  To my left, I caught glimpse of someone that looked familiar, but it didn’t register at first.  I set my stuff down in my office and then went back downstairs.  Sure enough, there was Shauna, one of our trainers who was responsible for so much of my growth and who also suffered a major stroke and nearly died.

I was immediately overwhelmed with too many emotions for one single one to register.  She was in a wheelchair and seemed small.  Never a dominating figure, as she was always small, her presence was mighty.  She carried more than just her small frame, which was now no longer stacked with muscle.  Despite that, she looked great.  She seemed alert and appeared very fresh.  I don’t think she recognized me at first, but when it clicked she smiled and said “Did you go to the gym today?”

It was all I could do to stop from breaking down right there.

Here in front of me was this mighty, mighty woman, a pillar of strength and the very definition of fight.  Not 5 months ago, she had all but been written off as dead.  Surviving what she did was beyond incredible and to see her right there in front of me left me unsure of what to say.  I asked how things had been lately and she replied “Getting better”.  We joked a little bit despite it seeming difficult for her to focus on our conversation.  Her sister was with her and seemed to appreciate bumping into a familiar face. 

I wanted to stop everyone in the building and yell at them to pay attention to this little warrior with more heart than all of us in the building combined.  I wanted to tell them that many never expected Shauna to make it out of the E.R. alive.  I wanted to tell them all how important she was to so many and that they were all in the presence of something extremely special.  But I know that making a big scene would not be anything close to what she would have wanted.  All I could offer was a smile and my complete and total respect.

Got her sister’s number and a buddy of mine and I plan on going to see her next week.  She always wanted a red workout shirt, which is part of the reason why our Hurt Locker shirts are what they are.  We will make good on that promise and spend time with her.

Anyway, I told Shauna that I missed her and that I wanted her to someday come back to the gym and yell at all of us.  I mentioned that the CrossFit Games started this week.  She just looked up said “workout for me”.  As I mentioned before, I have a slightly difference perspective on the Games, but now even more so.  I owe it to Shauna, and then some. For me not to participate in the Games seems like it would be a disservice to her and her tireless efforts to push everyone in that place to new heights of achievement. I plan on carrying that with me in the gym.

21 Notes/ Hide

  1. myphillipians413 said: You know I was just wondering aboit her last week. God does miracles even today and shr is proof of that. Good luck with the games.
  2. amyrunning said: She sounds like an amazing person. She’ll be proud of you competing for her.
  3. notovernight said: Wow
  4. regainingmymoxy said: Goose bumps. Thy is amazing. So sad that she has had to deal with a stroke - but so fortunate that she is that much more of an inspiration for it.
  5. ourtimetochange posted this

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