I was born on August 22, 1989, in Sierra Vista, Arizona, into a military family. My childhood was spent moving from place to place, New York, St. Louis, San Leandro, and Southern California, after my mom remarried when I was eleven. I’m the middle of three kids, and true to the stereotype, I had a reckless and eventful childhood. I got into fights, snuck around, and made choices that kept my mom on her toes. The last real planned decision I made was at sixteen when I joined the Marine Corps.
Growing up in a military family had always sparked an interest in me, and when the time came, I chose the Marines because I knew it would challenge me. It was a split-second decision, but everyone around me knew it fit who I was. I’d like to say it was an easy road, but that would be untrue. I spent ten years serving actively, with combat deployments and multiple injuries. By 2016, I had to leave the Marines after a spinal fusion surgery the year before.
The back injury started years earlier. In 2011, I was in a vehicle that hit an IED. At first, none of us were seriously hurt, but my back pain never went away. As a machine gunner carrying heavy gear daily, I thought it was normal. By 2013, doctors told me surgery was necessary. After months of physical therapy and injections, I went through with the spinal fusion. The pain was intense, but I pushed myself. Within nine months, I was back in the gym and slowly regaining strength.
But just when I thought I was recovering, life threw me another blow. In February 2016, I was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. A truck turned in front of me, and I hit it head-on. I flew nearly a hundred feet and woke up in the hospital with collapsed lungs, broken ribs and bones, a damaged liver, and a traumatic brain injury. I don’t remember the crash, my memory from that time is gone. All I knew was I had survived something I shouldn’t have, and now I had to rebuild again.
Recovery became my full-time job. Breathing, talking, and moving were huge challenges, but I leaned on my background in fitness. I had studied to become a personal trainer after my back surgery, and those skills helped me through this process too. Over time, I realized health and fitness weren’t just a way to heal, they were my passion. I decided to pursue school for physical therapy, studying kinesiology, anatomy, and physiology. I earned my degree in Kinesiology Allied Health and became a trainer specializing in corrective exercise, nutrition, and performance.
The years after the accident were filled with surgeries, therapy, and rebuilding my strength. My left shoulder had to be completely reconstructed, which added another year of recovery. To keep myself focused, I turned to bodybuilding. Competing gave me goals and discipline. Since 2018, I’ve competed in seven shows, placing in the top five each time. I balanced training, school, and eventually, a full-time client base as a trainer.
During this time, I also tried to follow my dream of owning a gym. I partnered with someone and invested in a franchise, but the deal fell apart, leaving me with losses I couldn’t recover. It was a tough setback, especially with everything else going on in my life. But I knew I had to keep moving forward.
One of the biggest blessings in my life came in 2015 when my son was born, on my birthday, no less. He came right before my accident, and from the moment he arrived, he became my purpose. I didn’t want to be the dad who couldn’t play with his kid because of injuries, so I fought harder in recovery for him. He’s wild and smart, just like me when I was young, and raising him has shaped everything I’ve done since.
Even though his mom and I separated when he was two, we’ve built a healthy co-parenting relationship. We share custody equally and work together to give him the best life possible. He has had his own challenges, including a rare autoimmune disorder, but he’s tough like his dad.
Today, I’m known for both fitness and fatherhood. I train clients, share my journey online, and even started a clothing line called Father Figure Fitness. It’s a family-inspired athleisure brand that reflects the values of health, parenting, and resilience. It’s been growing slowly, but the feedback has been encouraging.
Looking back, the Marine Corps, near-death experiences, injuries, divorce, parenthood, and business ventures have all shaped who I am. My story hasn’t been easy, but it’s been full of lessons. I share it not just for myself, but because I know it inspires others.
My son is my biggest motivation, and I want to show him that no matter what life throws at you, you can always rebuild and keep moving forward.
