2018 NPAA Magazine 2018 NPAA Magazine - This is Our Sport | Page 66

2017 BC
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kimberly Merke
transformation award
Winner
63.
My name is Kim Merke, I am a 41
year old mother of three. I am a
personal trainer and natural bikini
fitness competitor who suffers
from a rare condition called POTS
syndrome. This debilitating syndrome
causes health issues for me daily,
one of them being an exercise
intolerance . People ask me how
can you be a fitness competitor with
an exercise intolerance?... I answer
it’s complicated. I was diagnosed 6
years ago, shortly after my 14 year-
old daughter was diagnosed with a
heart condition and needed surgery.
If it weren’t for the Doctors getting
a family history and realizing that
I also had a health issue, I would
not have been able to live the life I
do today. After my daughters heart
surgery my health started to decline
fast, I ended up in the hospital with
stroke symptoms and heart issues. I
was sent to a cardiologist who then
diagnosed me with POTS syndrome.
This condition affects all of my major
systems such as cardiovascular,
respiratory and digestive. I have an
orthostatic intolerance causing a
war within my own body. After being
diagnosed I entered into a dark place
mentally, leaving me feeling hopeless.
I had to stop everything that had
brought me joy. I was an active and
vibrant person who had transformed
into a lifeless being. I was bed ridden
many days and unable to take care of
my family the way I had been used to.
Things were spiralling out of control
faster than I could handle. I woke up
one day and decided I was not going
to be a victim to this syndrome. It
was time to fight back, so I decided
to start working out again and pushing
myself to get back to doing what
made me happy. I felt so blessed to
have such caring and understanding
clients who supported me as much as
I supported them. I found my work to
be therapeutic not just a way to make
a living. Three years ago I decided
to start a journey that would help me
grow into the person that I am today.
I had a dream from a very young
age… to become a fitness competitor.
What better way to take my life back
from this syndrome than to fulfill a
goal of competing. I spoke with my
cardiologist and other Doctors at the
time and expressed how I wanted to
train for a fitness competition, I was
advised not to due to my syndrome.
I told the Doctors I wasn’t living but
simply existing. I researched and
put together a plan of how I would
achieve my goal and finally after a
year of convincing I was medically
cleared to start show prep for the first
time. I was so exited that I cried. This
was the beginning of a new life for
me. Things were not going to be easy
and most days I would feel unwell but
I didn’t allow that to interfere with my
goals. I had found an amazing coach
who was willing to train me even with
all my health issues. I had started
prep and only two weeks in I suffered
a brain virus that would almost claim
my life. My husband was scared
and didn’t think I would survive but I
made it through that illness. After a
month of severe vertigo and visual
complications I was planning to get
back to prep but then I suffered a
massive seizure leaving me unable to
leave my bed. After 1 week I started
to feel better but I never quite felt the
same. I pushed through prep as best
as I could but then found out I had a
torn retina and would need eye surgery
right away to prevent blindness. I felt
like the universe was trying to stop
me from competing but I wouldn’t give
up. I finished that prep and did stand
on my first stage in Vancouver. I did
not place but I felt like I had won the
lottery. I had never felt so proud and
fulfilled as I did that day. I did take a
year off after that show and worked
on my health. I decided to compete
again but this time I would share my
story for the transformation award
with the NPAA. With the help of my
amazing coach Yelena Yermolenko
I did grace the NPAA stage one
year later and I placed 4th in master
bikini. I had performed a miracle and
beaten the odds, my Doctors could
not believe what I had done. I had
made it to the stage and placed with
all odds against me. I have found
my sport and I have so much love
and respect for this community. I am
so proud that I stopped looking for
a miracle and became the miracle.
I encourage anyone with chronic
illness or disability to never give up,
do not become a prisoner to your own
body. I want to thank my family, coach
and friends for believing in me. Thank
you to the NPAA for welcoming me
into the most incredible community, I
feel so blessed!
Kim went on to win the rookie coach
of the year award at the NPAA BC
Classic in 2018. Congrats Kim for
your accomplishments.