Dave Parker was in a pretty dark place.
In about two years, his wife died, he was left as a single parent to care for his two children, had to undergo hip arthroplasty, and was subsequently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis caused him some cognitive problems, he lost use of his right arm, he often fell and was temporarily blind.
In addition to that, it made his managerial job impossible.
“There are so many lesions throughout the brain.
“It happened one after another. It was a lot. I went through some pretty rocky places.”
But today, the life of 38 is completely different.
After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, he discovered that exercise had improved his symptoms, so he began retraining as a personal trainer with Otago Polytechnic techniques. This is one of his biggest challenges.
“When you have multiple sclerosis and I refuse to quit, everything shows that it’s a really good exercise for you.
“Exercise helped. My brain rerouted signals and now my eyesight is back a lot — not perfect, but a lot — and my balance is much better. I am. “
He was also supposed to replace his second hip, but through his athletic regime he managed to “stop it.”
“There are so many benefits to my health.”
He has now started his own personal training business, based in Propel Fitness on Princess Street in Dunedin.
“I knew I wouldn’t work that long, so I called early and decided to retrain with something a little more purposeful.
“What I’m trying to do is work with people with multiple sclerosis and those who are ill to improve their health and prognosis in life through exercise.”
Parker said he recently woke up tired of going.
“When I wake up, I’m thinking of going to the gym, exercising, and promoting.” I’m looking forward to it every day.
“The exercise saved my life. It also gave me something to work on — it gave me the purpose of my life.”
He currently has several clients, including his mother, who has mobility problems.
“She was 68 years old and was moaning every time she sat down and stood up. It was very hard to pick things up from the floor.
“But now she can lift 55kg off the ground and we’re talking about doing powerlifting competitions.
“I’m surprised at the human body.”
— john.lewis@odt.co.nz
