It was a dream to become a pro BMX athlete one day and do this trick I grew up seeing Dave Mirra do.
A version of this trick (performed on the ramp to the left of this photo) actually saved my life when I fell and hit my head and needed an MRI. Backstory leading up to that point, I’d been in and out of the doctors office complaining of headaches, vision loss, and vomiting while also requesting a scan but denied and prescribed pain pills told “you’re young, in shape, and just have headaches”.
Fast forward to that crash I mentioned and the MRI that followed, who knew. I was diagnosed at the younger age of 21 with a massive brain tumor taking over half my brain and residing on my optic nerve and wrapped around an artery in my brian.
I’ve been able to transcend my dreams and inspire action in others around the world with nutrition, fitness, and mindset shifts from my experiences like what I just shared above, and I’m extremely honored and grateful for that fact.
Had I not set out to create my own path in life, who knows how many regrets I’d live with today and how many lives I may have not changed for the better.
Today, I live with 4 brain tumors (2 more brain tumor diagnosis since the original surgery) and have used Elekta Gamma Knife to shrink 2 and ketogenic diet and lifestyle to stabilize the other 2. I don’t compete anymore (personal choice) but I still ride at the same level (seen here), coach others, and am a motivational speaker.
-Josh P. 💚✌️