FIGHTING TO THE STARTING LINE

In October of 2010, two weeks before the Ironman World Championship, a common medical procedure lead to tiny breaks in my femoral head, and within two days - the bone's eventual collapse. 

Took Drs 3 Months to Diagnose

My dream of participating in the world’s toughest endurance race faded as doctors informed me that bi-lateral hip replacement was my only option, and that I would be unable to run again.

selected from 7000 to race in the 2010 Ironman
World Championship in Kona, HI

“Mr. DeJesus, Game over,” the doctor stated. “You should start to play chess.”  I sat there visioning two years of preparation, hard work and grueling work-outs checkmated by a genetic musculoskeletal disease and exacerbated by a pain treatment option that was supposedly designed to help. 

It’s amazing how hope can quickly fade and turn into silent desperation. I sought out every medical expert, piece of advice and alternative treatment option on the planet.  Doused with pain medications that would put a horse to sleep, I refused to let my dream of an active lifestyle rest.

Completing the Suntrust National Marathon in 2009

2009 Marine Corps Marathon Finisher

News like that has a way of hitting like a whirlwind and it’s sad how fast things can fall apart.  In the blink of an eye you can go from being on top of the world to being so far down you can’t even lift your head to look up at it.  The shift from running 40 miles a week to not being able to move three feet, being the fastest dad on the planet, to the dad that needs the strength of his son’s legs to help him to the bathroom is devastating.  Such a blow also has a way of changing your perspective. You go from being one of the harshest critics of drug use to relying on them just to get you out of bed.  The fall can be so deep and happen so fast that you find yourself suddenly asking: Why did this happen to me? How will I manage? More importantly I kept wondering if I would ever be able to run again.

June 2010 before my injury with Coach Steve Dolge at Open Water Swim practice in Lorton, VA

In the back of my mind I kept thinking how unfair this all was. I was so prepared to compete in Kona.  I knew that come race day I wouldn't regret a second I trained, but I would regret every minute I didn't. I turned my body into an endurance machine.  I raced and raced and raced some more.  In 2010 I  spent more time in the water than in my whole life. I rode countless miles on the bike and ran everywhere. The physical and metal preparation was unreal. I learned so much not knowing that there was so much more to learn.  

Half Ironman Ready

My Cyclelife Team - Getting me to Kona

Me and Coach Steve. I came in 3rd and he came in 2nd at 2010 Ft. Richie Olympic Tri - Who Looks tired?

Messing around After 2010 Nations' Tri

Although it would have been easy to remain stuck wallowing in the why of it all, I knew that I had to move on. The real question wasn’t why I fell; it was what I was going to do to get back up. I knew my children, most cherished blessing, were concerned about me. I realized this was the opportunity to teach them a lesson that no book can. I decided right then and there that I would overcome the situation, even though I didn't know how.  I grabbed my crutches, took my meds and fought. 

Kids supporting (literally) Dad after Marathon Finish

My Son even got into Tris, winning first place 

My Buddies and Me

In my fight I met countless other athletes, like myself, who had been humbled by injury, disease or bad luck.  They shared stories of their struggle and I realized I wasn’t alone.  I was never alone.  Each day millions of people find out about conditions that radically change their lives and the lives of the ones who love them.  Some are even born into these conditions.  I realized that the right questions to ask are: “What are you going to do to make your life better? When are you going to start?”

Representing hope to millions of kids who need options beyond the streets and supporting the people who serve them is not an easy task.  How can you give hope when you don’t have any?  I needed to keep hope alive.  I have been a source of hope to thousands of youth and I could not stop now.  I looked toward a new group for inspiration—a group that I was becoming personally affiliated with. This group consisted of hundreds of people who were battling similar musculoskeletal disorders. In fact it is reported that musculoskeletal disease strikes 50 million adults (1 in 5) and 300,000 children, and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. The cost of this disease is enormous. Due to pain, lack of adequate health care, lack of knowledge, millions of Americans do not take the necessary steps to improve their lives. They give up and succumb to the ravages of this disease, resulting in the eventual hampering or halting physical movement and all the risks associated with inactivity. Depression sets in and life darkens, sometimes for a very long time.  

I witnessed so many athletes continue on despite personal challenges. I knew if they could do it, I could, too. I found my hope.  It was once again time for me to practice what I preach, so I went to work. I struggled to put on my socks, got some lace free shoes, picked up a raised toilet seat, moved my bed to the first floor, grabbed my crutches and went to battle.  I battled insurance companies, managed pain, demanded state of the art healthcare treatment, and searched for the best surgeons. I fought and didn't give up.  When I got knocked down, I got up and fought harder.

My Youth Leader Javier Driving me Around and Helping with Errands

Had to Give Up My Dog When Unable to Walk Her - Miss You YAYA!

Heading into 2nd Surgery March 2010

Hip opened and dislocated, then sawing begins - 5 hrs March 2011

Looks like Ham

3nd Surgery Feb 2012

Two years, three surgeries and five medical procedures later, I have two Smith Nephew Birmingham Hips installed.  Carbon alloy, titanium rims.  It has been a long journey. 

“It's not about getting to the finish line...it's about getting to the starting line.”  -- Coach Steve Dolge 

My race for Ironman began on Sept 27, 2010.  Today, August 26, 2012, two years later, at the Louisville Ironman, it’s time to celebrate.  I’ve been ready for this race for two years. The race is easy, getting here was the hard part. I hope those of you struggling with similar issues, be they mental, physical, emotional, financial will ask the right question: What am I going to do today to make my life better?” Then you fight your way to the starting line. The rest is a piece of cake. Now I know why I race. I race for the hundreds of thousands of young people who do not feel they have options beyond the streets. Young people who have lost hope - given up on society because they feel like society has given up on them.  In the United States, there are 6.7 million disconnected youth ages 16-25, about 17% of the total population in that age group.  Many of these youth dropped out of school or graduated but still can't find a meaningful, living wage job.  Unsure about where to turn and with so few options for development they give up. Many turn to the streets and get caught up in a vicious cycle of despair and desperation.

This has been my life's work for the past 25 years. With Federally funds reaching less than  3% of these "opportunity youth" we still move on.  It has been hard. We have saved many and lost some.  Yet, the battle is not over. In fact, it has only just begun.  If we are going to succeed in this war, we must reach the hearts of young people.  We must show them, through example, that as long as you try there is always hope and people willing to help.   Just have fight your way to the starting line.

Today, I am going to become an Ironman—not because I swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles within 15 hours. I become an Ironman today because I had the courage to start. You can too.