Summary

A young man with osteogenesis imperfecta defies medical expectations by becoming an athlete and overcoming over 60 fractures.

Abstract

The author recounts a life of extraordinary challenges, beginning with multiple fractures at birth and a diagnosis of a rare bone disorder, osteogenesis imperfecta. Despite dire predictions from doctors, including an inability to walk or live a normal lifespan, the author not only survived but thrived, developing a passion for sports, particularly football. At age 9, a severe injury led to a forced retirement from sports, prompting a shift to chess. The narrative details the author's resilience in the face of repeated fractures, a life-threatening infection, and the emotional toll of his condition, while also hinting at a supportive relationship and a future journey into qigong and meditation.

Opinions

The author views their life experiences as a testament to resilience and strength, emphasizing personal growth despite adversity.
There is a sense of frustration and loss regarding the medical community's initial inability to diagnose and understand the author's condition.
The author expresses a strong belief in the power of passion and the importance of sports in their life, which provided a sense of liberation and purpose.
The author reflects on the devastating impact of the doctors' prognosis at age 9, which prematurely ended their sports career and led to a period of demotivation and identity crisis.
Despite the challenges, the author maintains a positive outlook, suggesting that their struggles have not been enough to deter them from pursuing success and personal fulfillment.
The author values community support, as evidenced by the call for support in their future endeavors, indicating a belief in the power of collective encouragement and assistance.

About Me: Overcoming 60+ Fractures To Becoming An Athlete

I’m only 22 but I feel like I’ve been here for eternity

My life challenged me with obstacles that would probably take people 5 lifetimes to achieve. And I’m still here, stronger than ever!

Let me show you what was that big drama about.

It was February 23rd, 2002, when my mother gave birth to a boy.

He was crying more than any other kid

He was in terrible pain

He had both of his femurs broken

Doctors couldn’t comprehend why I had both of my femurs fractured.

They told my parents that I’d probably not survive my first years. That they can’t plan their future around me. That they should plan to have another baby.

They sent me to the largest hospital in Slovenia.

My mother and I were there for 6 months.

Doctors gave me 15+ different diagnoses. They were in complete confusion. They didn’t know what to cure.

It was my mother who studied the medical literature and deduced that I might have osteogenesis imperfect or brittle bone disease.

She needed to argue with doctors who thought she was mad. But in the end, my diagnosis was confirmed. I indeed had the osteogenesis imperfecta type 3.

That’s one of the rarest diagnoses. I had more chances to win the lottery than get it. But I was lucky!

Doctors confined me to a tough life.

Their predictions:

I’d only live a few years
I’d have recurrent fractures
I wouldn’t be able to walk
I’d not be able to function properly

And 22 years later, I’m here writing this article with six-pack abs under my T-shirt.

The road was rough & challenging, yet I was able to overcome it.

The first years of my life were total madness.

In the first year of my life, I had over 10 fractures.

Breaking the femur in my sleep was the most unusual one.

I got scared — my femur fractured
Someone moved me imprecisely — my femur fractured
I moved carefully — my femur fractured

Fracturing a femur was like getting a cold for me

It was something that casually happened every month. And nobody knew what to do about it.

My bone density was just above 20%. Getting the bisphosphonates saved my life,

I somehow survived my initial year on Earth.

Then things got a little bit better.

My bones “only” fractured every few months
My cognitive abilities were genius!
I managed to walk my first steps at 3

Flying on the enthusiasm of my incredible achievement, I started playing sports.

My bones got broken. I recovered. I started playing football.

That was the cycle…

Playing football was my biggest liberation.

I forgot about the pain.
I was in the moment.
I felt I could beat anyone
I had a tremendous passion
I fought as if my life depended on the game
I played well
I dreamt about playing for Barcelona

That was happening for 5 years. But it had a devastating end.

At 9, I broke my right femur while playing basketball.

I got to the hospital. I needed an urgent surgery. The injury was more serious than any previous ones.

Doctors were horrified when I told them that I played sports.

That was the moment when they literally killed my soul.

You’ll never be able to play sports again. Forget about the football. Forget about badminton. Forget about running. Walking is your limit. Play Fifa instead…

Doctor said,

That was the moment when my childhood was over.

I was 9, but I had no motivation to live.
They destroyed my biggest passion.
I was forced to mature.
I was lost.

I recovered in 4 months, but my life was never the same.

That’s when my mother suggested that I turn to chess.

So I shifted from an athlete to a chess player.

I could compete, but I had much less passion for it.

But that was just the beginning of my struggles.

The toughest period of my life followed.

Enduring 8 major fractures in 1 year
Being confined to a wheelchair
Doctors gave me no hope of getting better
4 fractures from one single fall (doctors decided not to do any surgery as I wasn’t strong enough)
Major infection that delayed a major surgery for 1 month

All of that coincided with meeting the love of my life.

But all of that will be covered in part 2.

So stay tuned to see how things unfold!

And I still believed I didn’t suffer enough to deserve success…

Want more details? Check out my YouTube video.

P.S. I plan to visit a temple in China to deepen my qigong and meditation practice. You can support me here: https://ko-fi.com/jakajuvan/goal?g=0