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MY SUCCESS STORY

At one time it was a dream, today it’s a reality. I am Patty Cruikshank, 35 years of age and reside in Coquitlam, B.C. Canada.
I was born in the beautiful beaches of Brazil. My mother was pregnant with me 35 years ago, during the delivery there were complications and the Doctor had to use forceps to assist in the birth. Unfortunately, the forceps had been positioned in an area that caused complete paralysis in my right arm. My parents had me involved in all types of therapy to recover the paralysis, but nothing would help. Growing up as a child was very difficult. Children would make fun of me, I was never accepted in sports and day in and out I would think that everyone was staring or talking about my arm. I had to learn to do everything with 1 arm. I developed low self esteem and felt down quite often.

I met my husband when I was 19 years of age and moved to the beautiful country of Canada. I have 2 boys Victor-Hugo and Nicholas. My family has been great supporters.

I began a workout program that consisted of fitness classes 3 to 4 times per week. I considered myself very active but still wasn’t happy with the way I felt or looked. I definitely wasn’t a girl that you would find in Oxygen magazine. At the age of 34, I hired a personal trainer in my home setting. I thought that it would be motivational, comfortable and help me achieve my goals. Within a short period of time I had lost interest and went back to the gym (Fitness World) doing classes. I was always inspired by an instructor at the gym by the name of Tammy Rosiek; she was my favorite aerobics teacher. There was something about her that made me feel like I was apart and that she truly took an interest in me and the participants. She was passionate about helping others.

I knew that Tammy was a Ms. Fitness competitor and had won the Ms Fitness Canada and Galaxy Canada, she was so motivational, I wished I could do something like that. Yes, it was only a dream.

Every Tuesday morning I was at Tammy’s Cardio Kick Box class. One day she announced that she had certified in Personal Training and would be taking on clients. Without thinking twice I signed up with her right away. After 2 weeks of training I could see my body changing. I was so excited. For fun, I asked Tammy if she thought that I would be able to do a fitness competition. I explained to her about my physical disability with my right arm. I had no feeling in this extremity. My arm just hangs there, with loose skin and no muscle tone. She said “Absolutely you could compete”. I was overwhelmed with excitement, I experienced so many different emotions, I was so use to being rejected and not accepted in sports all my life. For once, someone believed in me and was willing to give me the opportunity. This was the beginning of something incredible and a chance to change my life.

I started personal training with Tammy in December of 2006. Tammy asked me to give her a photo of the ideal person she would want to look like and complete a food log 4 days out of the following week. I went through the Oxygen magazine and brought a picture back to Tammy; she reviewed my eating habits and said that I would have to increase the meals from 2 that I was eating to 6. I was very determined and focused, I followed everything Tammy asked, nutrition, training, choreography and preparation to step foot on stage in April 2007. She would assist my arm in the exercises to help with range of motion, strength and functionality. The results were unbelievable. I started to get a shoulder, bicep and triceps muscle in my paralyzed arm, how could this be, all the years in physiotherapy and nothing would help. My self esteem began to heighten, I was more social, my body was transforming into something I would never dream of. I was eating 6 to 7 meals and up to 4 liters of water per day. By the fourth month I was experiencing feeling in my arm for the first time in my life. By the end of March 2007, I was ready to step foot on the competition stage. In April 2007, I was on stage in the Physically Challenged and Model category at the Fame event in North Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Yes, I was so nervous, but all I could hear was Tammy’s voice, saying you can do this, believe in yourself, show them all your hard work and be an inspiration to the other Physically Challenged people in our world. The show day was one of the best days in my life. I loved being there and thinking that I was going to be an inspiration to others. I won all 3 categories and received my Masters Model Pro Card. But most important of all my self esteem, confidence, health and wellness had improved immensely. I will continue to move forward and influence others in a positive way. I will continue to get on the stage so I can touch peoples lives and help them like Tammy has done for me.

I can’t thank my husband Victor and my two sons for being there for me all the way. Thank-you Tammy for making my dream a reality. I open the Oxygen magazine now and see myself as one of them. Please view my before and after pictures. Hard to believe I could change so much in 4 months. You can do it too, never give up on your dream. Pass by the obstacles and live life to the fullest.