My Why
Below you will find just a few of my reasons for going so hard - during such a hard time. Naturally you would consider the need for a work/life balance. It's not that work is my life, these people have just become my why. They have become my family, they have become my reasons for living. This community raised me. I will give it everything I have until the death of me. I feel like the best way to honor God and the gifts He has given me, is to be able to say "I used everything He gave me."
First Quarter
We do our best to bring out any and everybody that will push our community (esp. the girls). At the top of 2018, at Iconic Sport Performance we hosted a Free Community: WNBA Meet & Greet ft. Jewell Loyd and Courtney Williams. In my opinion, everyone thinks there son can be LeBron, but not many believe their daughter can be Jewell or Courtney, etc. So this event was necessary for to us to push. Not from just the angle of pro athletes but specifically what it takes to be a professional and excel in any field of your choosing.
Not only did we have these All-Stars appear for us, but they also answered questions and did an auto-graph session. Check out the full video highlight of the event above. Special appearances were made by some of your favorite Gamecocks like Tina Roy and Aliana Coates. The MC for the evening was Columbia Native and Gamecock WBB GREAT Brionna Dickerson, who literally killed it!
We were in the thick of basketball season, so along with training daily, we attended various games to support our student-athletes. Here my team and I are pictured with one of our players, Kameron Roach aka "Killa Kam" of the Univ. of Kentucky 😤
My nephew Noah was born towards the end of 2017. I stayed with my sister for sometime as she adjusted to motherhood. But really I spent my time getting as many kisses as he'd let me.
He's my favorite 😊
Second Quarter
The image to the left show the results from the initial ultrasound. Pictured are the cysts, fibroids, as well as tumor. The radiologist suggested upon findings that I see a Gynecologic Oncologist. Yes! The same one I waited two months for 🤦🏾♀️. In the middle I am pictured preparing for a PET Scan. The purpose of the scan was to see if there was any obvious signs of cancer in my body. Everything, and I mean everything ... including those 10-15 vials of blood for pre-cancer tests came back clear. I am very appreciative that my GYN was so thorough.
Fun Fact: I will continue to get scans for the next 5 years. And they decrease in frequency each year of remission. Currently I go every six months. Depending on the test, I may have to receive contrast or drink these nasty nasty NASTY drinks that look like 👀 but taste orange-citrusy flavored. Isn't that weird? It makes me want to puke 🤢🤮. It is pictured to the far right. Apparently it makes you light up on the inside allowing the radiologist to clearly see any potential issues. But get this I gotta drink TWO of them bad boys 😶
As we entered spring, the NCAA Signing Period came fast! And one of our favorite stories is about Mya Belton. She began training with us in Jan 2018 as an unsigned senior and finished with multiple scholarship offers after increasing her performance in almost every category.
Checkout the video above!
We also began training for PEAK AAU Season. Pictured below is two of our monsters 💪🏾 🏀🏋🏾♂️! One in Audrey Meyers, a junior at the time, who would go on to lead her team to a State Championship. The second in Unique Drake, who was the #1 player in SC at the time. She was training to prepare for her final AAU season. Ultimately she secured the 🎒 and signed to St. John's University!
Third Quarter
After linking with Jewell and her team in January, we partnered to form the Mamba Army (SC). Apart of our mission at
Iconic Sport Performance is to shift the culture in the community. The Mamba Army (Jewell's non-profit) was a perfect partnership to assist us and pushing our culture forward. As her mission was a branch of Kobe Bryant's Team Mamba that directly correlated with the Mamba Mentality consistently portrayed on and off the court by Jewell Loyd, 'The Gold Mamba,' and Kobe Bryant, 'The Black Mamba.'We created a mentorship program with some of the most determined and disciplined girls basketball players in the state and hosted a series of events throughout the year.
The first event we hosted together was another one free and open to the community that aided in the re-instatement of pick up games. Our trainers, along with others from all over both young and old engaged in various games at a local community park. You know I jumped in there a busted some ahhh 😤 😂. I had too! I mean, I was going to be out for a minimum of six weeks! I had to go out w a bang.
Check out some of the dope pics of the event above.
Next up for our personal non-profit ISP: Student of the Game, that is really near and dear to me, was the Team Exposure Camp! The whole time I was secretly thinking I hope I don't bleed all over myself 😫 but the BIG MAN looked out! This event was imperative as we would build the relationships that would evolve into the Girls Holiday Showcase we host each Christmas.
The event featured 12 teams from SC. The student-athletes competed in various skills and drills as well as pick-up games in front of coaches that were eligible to recruit in June (NCAA DII, DIII, NCJAA, NAIA, NCCAA). Many of our athletes have the ability to compete at the next level, yet simply have not been exposed to the resources to get them there. ISP: Student of the Game is here to educate our communities and bridge that gap. You see there faces? I couldn't miss it!
Fourth Quarter
Andddd two days later, I passed out in WAL-MARKET, and woke up here! Top row, are images of my scar, and me finally seeing the light of day after the surgery and transfusions. This day! I felt amazing, I just didn't look like I was with the sh*ts 🙃😂. The very next day though, my hemoglobin levels tanked again so I was completely OUT of it! Unfortunately, I needed two more transfusions, after surgery - and couldn't go home until my blood level increased.
Next, is an image of my scar (sorry if its TMI lol) anddddd the tumor/uterus situation combined.
It's still unreal that this THING was growing inside of me.
BUT by the Grace of God, it was removed by Dr. LifeSaver, and I was taken care of each day until I was cleared for departure by one of the sweestest and hard-working nurses I know (except for you Auntie Mickie 😘)!
I would be lying if I said this was easy, but the caregivers I was blessed with certainly made it better.
Post Game
Not long after surgery the best guard in the country needed a trainer lol. I meannnn, I went! Duh lol! What made it even better is Te'a made getting out of bed with stitches in your stomach worth it! She is HANDS DOWN on my TOP 3 HARDEST WORKING of All-Time's LIST and a TRUE PROFESSIONAL. I do not personally know ANY college athletes with the mind, the motor, and the DISCIPLINE of this one.
And maybbbeee I moved little too fast because ... I ripped my stitches 🤦🏾♀️ but we GOT better that day!
And for my people I'd do anything! Stitches heal, and me and my dog solid 😎✊🏾❤️
Doctor's order's had me out for six weeks. and maybeeee five 👀 we slid out to Washington, DC to watch the Seattle Storm take on the Washington Mystics. The Mamba Army (SC) Mentorship Program got a chance to kick it with Jewell one on one. See Black History Museum, as well as other National Monuments. THEY EVENT GOT TO MEET SUE BIRD 😫 STEWIE, and a few others coming straight out the locker room. Check out the pics and the video of our recap. There mayybeee a freestyle or two for the Gold Mamba from our MC's 😂
Let me tell you about MY GOD, okay?! 🙌🏾
The minute I was cleared for Take OFF! Te'a hit me about training with 'Mrs. I Called Game' herself, Arike Ogunbowale of the (then) defending champs Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Highlights and pics from the workout are above.
The time off allowed me to rest and refocus to close out the year strong. My kids killed the summer circuit, and my staff held it down as they always do! I had time to think as well about my health, my priorities, and how valuable life itself truly is. Whole time, I heard God talking too. It's funny because no one ever chooses cancer. We like to say 'What God Has for Me, Is FOR ME!" Unfortunately, that doesn't just apply to the glitz and glamorous things life has to offer.
When I was little I used to thump a track by the WINANS PHASE II group called "It's Alright (Send Me). It was my first "saved' song if you know what I mean. It went:
Anywhere you lead I'll follow
If you need somebody Lord, I'll go
If nobody else wants to go
I'm saying Lord, it's alright send me
I go to church every year for my birthday, in 2018, even my pastor mentioned how "if the lord told you in order to receive what He has for you, you have to go bankrupt, lose your home, fight cancer ... most of us would STILL think twice."
He wasn't lying.
I wouldn't pick this for anyone that I LOVE. It was hard, mentally. But even physically one of the hardest things I've had to endure. Post surgery, even laughing hurt. But since, what I've learned, what I believe, my relationship with God, my family, and my kids man, I wouldn't trade for the world. Somehow even this crazy thing was designed for me. I felt like it was my responsibility to tell my story, so He can get all the Glory!
Could you imagine having CANCER?
Not knowing it?
Not showing it?
And never having to miss a beat?
ONLY GOD COULD DO THAT!