From Wheelchair Bound to BODY PROUD: Honnor Moore's Story
ByA.M. Atwater
On October 24, 2009, amidst a decade long battle against Rheumatoid Arthritis, Honnor Moore proved it was possible to have victory over such a devastating illness. Wearing a green satin bikini, she walked with confidence on the competition stage of the FAME Canadian Nationals in North Vancouver on Saturday.
She was competing in two categories: FAME novice competitors and FAME physically challenged. She won awards for most inspirational athlete and in the show! There was not a dry eye in the house when Honnor spoke of her fight to save herself from a body destroying its self from the inside.
Over a decade ago, at the age of 30, Honnor was a new mother to a beautiful baby boy when she first noticed something odd was happening. She first noticed that she was unable to flex her finger. Due to many contributing factors, her symptoms worsened, her mobility weakened and relentless pain forced her to seek medical help.
During a visit with her family doctor, Honnor received the devastating news. “My doctor was emotional when she told me I had rheumatoid arthritis.” Honnor remembers that day vividly. “At that moment I didn’t fully understand her emotion or the ramifications of such a devastating illness until I looked it up. I was stunned."
She was told with absolute certainty, at the state of her condition, she would be confined to a wheelchair within five years and her career would end within two. Her doctor prescribed a cocktail of medications that would not be a cure but would help her manage her illness and support her with her pain.
Over the next eight years, her body’s immune systematically and viciously attacked her joints and other body tissue. Honnor did not believe she was born with this illness so there should be a cure. She left no stone unturned. Her answers came in the form of a World-Class Medical treatment centre called Sanoviv.
After devastating side affects from the medication, of which were liver, kidney and heart complications she left Vancouver in a wheelchair to be admitted in Sanoviv Medical Institute in Mexico. Working with an entire team of medical professionals over a course of two years and two in patient treatment programs. Honnor now believes they have found the root cause of her illness. The suspect: a root canal.
Her goal, after her initial treatment at Sanoviv, was to compete at the FAME Canadian Nationals in March 2009, but it seemed RA was standing in her way. Honnor wasn’t going to let the illness defeat her as it had in the past. She set a new goal for October 2009.
Over the course of the next months, on a specific functional medicine plan which was closely monitored, Honnor worked to ready her body for the competition. Paying close attention to fatigue, pain and unstable joints, Honnor splinted and braced while strengthening her healing body with various forms daily exercise, including 20 minutes a day on the Stairmaster and 30- 45 minutes of treadmill cardiovascular endurance. Four days a week, she worked a different muscle group, creating alternative systems and methods to accommodate her special needs while paying particular attention to her abdominal muscles. Most days, it was all she could do as a work out then have to rest.
Honnor’s hard work and dedication paid off, when she showed she was Body Proud at the FAME Canadian Nationals in North Vancouver taking home the first place Fitness Model Physically Challenged and the Most Inspirational Athlete awards.
This past month, she also competed at the FAME International Championships where she took home the first place samurai trophies for FAME Fitness Model Masters and FAME Fitness Model Physically Challenged. Way to go Honnor, you showed the world that even after suffering the effects of a devastating illness like Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is possible to be Body Proud.
OCTOBER 2009
* FAME CANADIAN NATIONALS * Inspirational Athlete Award
* FAME CANADIAN NATIONAL *1st place Physically Challenged Award
NOVEMBER 2009
FAME INTERNATIONAL 2009-
*FITNESS MODEL MASTERS FIRST PLACE
*FITNESS MODEL PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED FIRST PLACE
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