Part 10    Part 9 was my final entry from 2007.   From Memory:   I returned to Canada in June, 2007 with a great deal of hope. Given the climate of the Ontario (Canada) healthcare system at the time, it took a number of weeks to secure a doctor's appointment, approximately three months to undergo an MRI and another month to receive the results. During the four months plus that had passed, I was advised to abstain from all physical activity. Anything light, including stretching was a potential threat.   The fear was that a bone and/or fragment could shift and lead to paralysis. The MRI results, received in November, concluded … [Read more...]

      Part 9   Saturday, May 05, 2007  ...The Verdict Is In....   I went to a Chiang Mai orthopedic specialist yesterday - something didn't feel right about my knee, so I wanted a third opinion. He asked me a lot of questions, did some testing and wanted me to get x-rayed. Cool. While I was there, I thought, Yeah, maybe I should mention my back....   ...Sitting in his office with my x-rays illuminated, he asks me "Did you have an accident, 2 maybe 3 months ago....maybe longer?" I mention my knee. He said, "No, I'm talking about your back." This went on for awhile, because I was completely confused - I already told him what happened two … [Read more...]

       Part 7   Friday, April 27, 2007 April Update...The Light! The Light!....From Thailand....   It's been awhile since I last wrote you all. I knew the update was coming soon. The timing is on target, the content, completely off.   The last month of training has been difficult. April for the most part has been a write off. We lost at least 10 days due to Songkran - Thai New Year and the gym was crazy lax the weeks preceding. That coupled with the fact my knee is still healing (What is it? 3 months now?), I was bumming. Hardcore.   Despite my injury, I'd been incredibly motivated about training, but I felt this wasn't being … [Read more...]

      Part 6   Wednesday, March 07, 2007   I'm off to a specialist in the morning about my knee. Almost three weeks off from training and I'm not alright. Doctor said I have to verify it's not a torn ligament (translation - surgery). Fingers crossed. I don't think it's that serious, but for those of you that know me well and what gets thrown in my direction....ack....all I can say for the rest of you is this, I must have been one evil motherfucker in a past life...I hope it was fun...   Anyhow, this whole situation is ridiculous. I've got friends out here who have been training and fighting for years and are fine. No serious injuries ever. I … [Read more...]

      Part 5     Thursday, March 01, 2007 2 Months In Thailand...   Hey Everybody.   Seems like it's that time again, when I pause, ponder and dial you all into some of the happenings of my daily life. The past bit has been interesting. Got my knee taken out sparring with a fellow Canadian. The guy pulled a move I've never seen before (tried to take both my legs out at the same time). I maintained for the .25 seconds before his shin hit my 2nd knee in the attack. Thigh went one way, calf the other. Pop. Been out for almost 2 weeks now.   Couldn't train for almost a week until the swelling finally diminished. Walking was a … [Read more...]

      Part 4   Monday, February 12, 2007   Reviewing my past entries, what I seem to have failed to post was the healing of my hip. If memory serves me correctly, the rejuvenation occurred sometime during the period the above was filmed and prior to my next entry.   Details:   I went to visit the blind massage service I had faithfully been frequenting. On this particular occasion I remember lying placidly during my massage with the largest of the men diligently working on me. I was on my back when he lifted my torso and quickly rotated my spine. Something snapped. The feeling alarmed me as it wasn't akin to anything I had felt during my … [Read more...]

    Part 3   This is the story of how I chose to follow my intuition over the advice of  my doctors and  chiropractor and ultimately healed beyond what I was told was possible.  It is set in San Kamphaeng, Thailand in 2007. It was my first trip to Thailand and the entries in this series were original updates intended for friends.   Friday, February 09, 2007 Training...   I have no idea where to start this. Not sure how much time has passed since I last wrote you all. Hell,I'm not even sure what day it is...so I may repeat myself. Could say I'm sorry, but I'm not. I'm having too much fun out here to even worry about that shit. And for that, I … [Read more...]

  Part 2   Part 1: Ailments, Injuries And Dreams   Monday, January 22, 2007 San Kamphaeng....Week 3   Hey Everyone.   Things are getting easier out here. Weather's getting warmer, I'm getting used to everything. Basically I'm loving it.   O yeah and I met my neighbours. Know how I said they were like people from my hometown? Scratch that. These people are happy and friendly. They're cool as hell. Glad I didn't poison their dog......   So yeah, you guys keep asking me about Thailand and I keep writing about dogs and my neighbours.....to be honest with you, I have no fucking clue. Until I pick up the language, I'm scratching … [Read more...]

    Part 1   Being injured doesn't mean you can't follow your dreams; rather, you may have to reconsider your path. My first journey to Thailand to train Muay Thai began on January 1, 2007. Plagued with allergies, eczema and a dysfunctional hip due to being hit on foot by a car, I encountered more debilitating challenges in my six months in Thailand. In 2009 I returned to Thailand to follow a childhood dream - to train a martial art full-time and begin my nomadic life.   This is Part 1 of how I disregarded the the diagnoses of various doctors and my chiropractor, followed my intuition and ultimately healed beyond what I was told was possible.  It is also … [Read more...]