From Wheelchair To Marathon: My Victory Over "Can't." Link To the Article In The Blog Post.
- uniquelymeandlovin
- Aug 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 19
After more than a decade as a patient of Dr. Philip G. Ploska, I was deeply honored when his office invited me to be featured in their HOPE Series—a collection of stories that celebrates extraordinary journeys of resilience, recovery, and the relentless power of perseverance.
My own path has been anything but easy. I’ve endured seven spinal surgeries, including four fusions, and came terrifyingly close to losing my life in 2023. That moment became a turning point. I made a conscious decision to stop living as a victim and start showing up as a victor.
With the unwavering support of the incredible team at ROSI, I chose to rewrite my narrative. I went from being wheelchair-bound to now training for my very first marathon, set to take place in Atlanta on March 1st, 2026.
Years ago, I learned one of the most powerful truths: our minds can either be our greatest allies or our fiercest enemies. Every day, we have the opportunity to choose. I stopped telling myself “I can’t” and started saying “I can”—even if I had to do it differently. “Can’t” no longer exists in my vocabulary, and it hasn’t for over two years.
When we clear our minds of limitations and focus on possibilities, the results are extraordinary. With grit, hard work, resilience, a little luck, a phenomenal care team, and a healthy dose of stubbornness, we can achieve more than we ever imagined.
I’m not special. What I’ve done is possible for anyone. Believe in yourself. Fight for yourself. Show up for yourself. And most importantly, give yourself permission to be happy and thriving—even in the face of a difficult diagnosis or a disappointing outcome.
Life is too short for regrets and “what ifs.” So do it. Do it happy. Do it sad. Do it angry. Do it tired. Do it in pain. Do it in loneliness.. Just do it.
You’ll be amazed at how your mindset shifts—and how your healing follows.
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