Holly Stanbrough…I Came To Win!

“I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly….”

Opening lines from a Nicki Minaj song that cling to the life journey of Holly Stanbrough like a perfectly tailored suit. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2002, Holly has risen phoenix like from this devastating news and turned her life around in so many ways that you cannot fail to be inspired by her story.

So take a moment out of your day to enter her world and discover once again the power of the human spirit….

What was your life like before you were diagnosed with MS? What were your plans and where was your life headed? 

“My life was the simple busy family lifestyle – fairly carefree with ups and downs – wife, mother and a career.   I had seen each day as having yet another day.   Yes, I had goals, mostly directed towards raising my daughter and being a good wife and the best employee.  In so many words, I set my personal goals and dreams aside for those things I felt were the priority, the role of parent and wife.  In all reality, I lost a portion of my own identity not realizing until this diagnoses.”

When did you first notice that something was ‘wrong’?

“My physical health gradually declined over a 3 week period and eventually became debilitating.   Initially, the doctors thought I was suffering from a simple inner ear infection.  As the weeks progressed my balance became more and more challenging.   However my symptoms appeared to be more “viral” than a chromic condition or life threatening illness.    I continued to seek out medical care and treatment attempting to address difficulty with balance, coordination and walking.   I finally got to a point where I was unable to walk normally or drive and had a slight loss of vision.  I was referred to an ophthalmologist, due to this decline and vision loss.   That appointment lead me down a road I thought I would never be traveling.  That day I went from thinking, all I needed was a simple prescription for a silly annoying virus to facing the possibility of an incurable disease.  I was given the probability of facing, a brain tumor, aneurism, graves disease or MS.  I quickly asked, the ophthalmologist, if I could have option (E) – none of the above.  I was immediately seen by a neurologist,  which resulted in a variety of medical tests and screens, more MRI’s and spinal taps, until the diagnosis was confirmed, I had MS.”

Can you recall the day you were officially diagnosed?

“The fear I experienced that day was paralyzing.  I felt I was losing total control of my life, the goals, the dreams I had were fading before my eyes.  I felt powerless in this diagnosis.  I simply couldn’t grasp what horrible thing I had done to deserve this, why me?  I simply shrunk inside and felt like a coward, felt I had no fight left, the courage I had always found during adversity, was gone.   My emotions were overwhelming, engulfed me, directing me to a place that was dark, the harshness of this reality was difficult to face.  I had always felt in control and strong, this took me to another level of inner strength.

The day I was told I had a chronic incurable disease is the day I saw the life as I knew it to be over. 

As I soul searched and looked for answers to ‘WHY?’ the anger of feeling robed and cheated out of my life’s dreams overwhelmed me but  I had to come to terms with this illness to be able to move out of the darkness and find peace, find  reason.   I had to search within the diagnosis to find a possible new way of life for me.  I just had to believe in me, in my faith and in my strength, I would find the meaning, a new way to see life, an opportunity to see not the quantity of years lived but the quality of years lived.  The ‘why’ is easy to see after that, it was a blessing – I was chosen to help others thought this journey.  I now see it as an honor to be picked.”

There must have been moments of fear and doubt – how did you overcome those and decide to take control of your life in a very positive and pro active way?

“I’m a true believer in the power of BELIEVING  ~ When you BELIEVE you can overcome and achieve~  I simply had lost this for a moment, in self pity and fear of losing  ME my dreams and the future I had planned out in my head.  I had to reevaluate life and realize it was not something simply owed to me but a gift to me.” 

You have mentioned that training and nutrition have played a key part in controlling symptoms. What changes did you implement in this respect?

“For many years, I had been a semi – vegetarian.   This truly limited my protein intake (at least the way I chose to eat).  As I began to train, a good friend sat me down and talked with me about the impact of protein, muscle growth, fat burning and training.  As an RN, I knew nutrition but didn’t understand its impact at this level.  Given that the majority of people with MS have a chronic Vitamin B deficiency, causing muscle soreness, fatigue, joint pain, limiting my protein intake only compounded my issues.  When I increased the protein in my diet the symptoms I was experiencing began to decrease and diminish becoming more tolerable and my quality of life began improve.   I began researching nutrition more, hydration, chemicals and impurities in my foods etc.  Since the diagnoses of MS, in 2002; I was unable to make it to my scheduled Neurologist appointment, without having an emergency visit for steroid treatments, MRI’s to treat a flare up etc.  By evaluating my nutrition with careful respect to my symptoms and training, I have respectfully captured what I call “remission” since June 2010.  Even though, MS is not recognized as an illness that is ever in remission, I believe it can be.” 

What do you think of the various drugs and treatments currently available to those with MS?

“I believe there are many medications available on the market that are beneficial … However none of them help symptom control or cure the illness.  They only help by attempting to keep the disease dormant.   They have NO effect on the daily symptoms that people suffer every day.  They do NOT make you feel better, see better, walk speak or think better but they hopefully slow the progression of the illness.   However this is often a shot in the dark,   MS is still very much a mystery and it is not understood why people are stricken with it, what causes it and why some people’s illness progresses fast and others slowly.   Unfortunately with medications like this comes cost, the cost of MS medications are not economical and often unaffordable.  Even with insurance, one could pay hundreds to thousands of dollars for this shimmer of hope.”

This past year you earned your pro card and were named in top 100 fitness models and in the 2011 Who’s Who in professional women in the US. Pretty impressive would be an understatement! How far would you like to take your fitness career?

“My biggest ‘life’ goal which involves fitness would be to travel the world speaking on the gift of life and inspire those who suffer or question their purpose in life.  To, reach out to those who are suffering or have suffered and help them find the tiny sparkle of hope for one more day.  My fitness / my modeling are avenues that I respect a great deal.  It has offered me an opportunity to talk with people, to touch lives I would not have had the opportunity to touch.  In turn, they have all touched mine and it leaves me feeling speechless and truly blessed each day.   Each day I wake I see more promise and more strength, simply with the incredible people that surround me, near and far.  Without the diagnosis – without this illness – the ‘gift’, I would not have this opportunity “

You have also written one book and are planning another one. I have a feeling that there is even more on the horizon in terms of goals….care to share a few?

“Book two ‘The Companion’ is a collection of inspirational poetry and daily quotes.   I am also striving to start my own clothing line called Flexy by Design.  I was given a nickname by a dear friend who always believed my fight, always called me ‘sexy Flex’ so with a little twist I came up with a catchy logo – FLEXY.  The campaign to create this line of fitness clothes, t- shirts ,  gym bags and fitness gear with a trendy but powerful slogan to empower people to get and stay healthy..  Flexy by Design is the new sexy!”

What would you say your mission is at this point is….and your message to those challenged by MS?

“My passion is my mission…to change the face of MS. I am beginning a new journey, I am fortunate to have been given this opportunity .I feel passionate about helping others that suffer with chronic illness.  I challenge everyone to help me, in this call to change the face of MS….It does not have to be a life once lived, dreams faded, and days of just memories of what could have been. It can be a life filled with an abundance dreams and never ending memories … living beyond your potential.  Hoping to give others positive energy to fight, to live, to find themselves and live their life peacefully.   Simply hoping to give hope and be impactful.   My mission is my story, my life – to help change the face of MS”

Any final thoughts you would like to share?

“Courage is contagious; when we take a stand the foundation for others is often strengthened.    It only takes one person to inspire and enroll the world!”

Don’t look upon the world with fear, hold the hand of courage and walk away – walk with me and join me!!

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