The Story

I don’t hide my story, but it’s kind of a downer, so I also don’t tell it unless it comes up. I was a sick kid, lots of ailments, my life was like a less severe version of “House”. I had chronic ear infections growing up, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and struggled with my mental health. In fourth grade, because of my ear infections, I ended up with c diff due to constant antibiotics. That nearly killed me. My mental health really declined shortly after, and I made two suicide attempts before I was 13. My home life was pretty difficult, not the worst not the best, but what my parents did give my younger brother and I, was the opportunity to find a community to raise us. Mine was Jiu Jitsu. I learned to be a person for better or worse on the mats. I had people to guide me, and I wasn’t perfect, but they gave a shit, called me out, and showed they cared when I needed it, I wouldn’t have made it in this world without Jiu Jitsu, so if you ever wonder why it’s my entire personality, now you know.