For the past 12 years I have devoted my life to find some way to help those who have little or no way to manage their pain. I am 29 years of age and suffered from chronic back pain as a result from an injury I sustained in 1997. This was no ordinary injury. I was struck in the leg just 4 inches above my knee with an outdoor power saw (used for cutting down trees). When I realized the extent of my injury I knew immediate action needed to be taken. When the power saw struck, it knocked out 2 inches of bone from my left femur and continued through the rest of my leg. I spent over 18 hours in surgery and had two more procedures to correct length and mobility. During my hospitalization, the trauma team had to tell me that sports were not for me anymore.    

                        
After eight days of hospitalization I walked out with the help of crutches and a goal to once again play sports. With almost 2 years of physical therapy; learning to walk again and regaining my strength; I was able to apply to the University of Tennessee Chattanooga where I joined the Crew (rowing) team as a novice rower. Within two months I had made the varsity team where I spent the next two years winning 5 gold medals and 3 silver.  I was able to overcome some of the worst pain a human being should ever endure through various forms of alternative medicine, especially neuromuscular rehabilitation.