When there is a will, there is a way! Here is my story…

I was born premature, weighing 2.3 pounds with not much hope for survival. My parents were told I would live the rest of my life in a wheelchair and blind. Well, that didn’t happen but I was faced with many challenges throughout my childhood and adolescent years.

At 12 years of age I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.   I had an inverted right foot which caused me to walk with a severe limp.   I even had teachers who told me to walk straight and stop limping!  If adults talked like that to me, what do you think my classmates did?   I was teased and bullied my whole young life.    Why, because I walked funny?  Because I was in “special ed?” People could be so cruel. 

My saving grace was baseball.  My cerebral palsy diagnoses came at the same time I found out I could throw a baseball pretty well.   I had difficulties hitting the ball and running the bases, but my coach recognized the ability I had as a pitcher.   My high school team was ranked fourth in the nation by USA Today. After high school I went on to play college baseball, where I was able to throw the ball at 90 miles per hour.  I still play today on adult leagues. 

At age 27 I found a specialist who performed reconstructive surgery on my inverted right foot, which lessened my limp and diminished my painful muscle cramps.

My love of baseball is what led me to personal training and nutrition.  While training I was drawn to children with disabilities because of our unique connection.  I understand what it is like to fight for everything I wanted.  As a child, my baseball coaches were always “protecting” me; they were always afraid I would get hurt on the field, and all I wanted to do was play! I had to learn on my own that life is about taking risks, and striving to be the best you can be!

Currently, I am married to my beautiful wife Maria, and we have a wonderful 3-year-old son, with another little blessing on the way!  My disability was my biggest motivator in life.  I share my story to teach both sides of bullying.  I encourage character, morals, hard work, dreaming big and leaving your mark on this world.  We only get one chance at life.  Every new day is a great time to make the world a better place, but it all starts with you. 

I have a team of dynamic speakers who all have impelling stories to share about their own experiences with not fitting the “norm” of our society, and how they overcame those obstacles. Our goal is to motivate and empower individuals to love themselves and to be the best they can be. Let us find the right speaker for your group!