When the Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me

I’m not “winning” in the way I used to think about it. There’s no race, no finish line, no endless striving anymore. Instead, I’m winning in quieter, more personal ways. After a life‑altering event in January 2025, I slowed down enough to notice the beauty in small things, sunrises, sunsets, butterflies, even the wind reminding me to breathe. Gratitude isn’t about big achievements anymore; it’s ab...

💌 A letter to my daughters… You are my why, my pride, and my purpose. Every word I wrote to you—about love that never makes you small, courage that sometimes whispers instead of roars, and growth that feels uncomfortable before it feels empowering—is the roadmap I hope you carry into the journey ahead. Life will surprise you, stretch you, and sometimes break you, but you are stronger together tha...

✨ For 11 months I waited. I thought I’d bounce back, that life would resume as normal, that I’d wake up one day and everything would be okay again. But life had other plans. I’ve had to learn that being unfinished doesn’t mean unworthy. It means I’m still growing, still becoming, still alive. Every messy, imperfect day counts. Every struggle is part of my journey. I don’t need to be perfect to sh...

✨ You can try forever and never end up doing. People throw out the word try so easily, it looks like effort, but it’s really hesitation, a soft no disguised as action. From a distance, trying looks effortless, but it’s a stall, a holding pattern to doing nothing at all. Right now I live like I mean it. I move like it matters. Intentionally. Because I want to heal, I want a better life, I want to...

✨  Podcast #15: Enough — A Mother’s Story of Bullying, Judgment, and Choosing Courage  ✨ I’ve held onto this blog and podcast for a while, wondering if I should post it. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I know this story will mean something to someone out there. This is my journey:  When the strongest person I knew was gone — Me. Bullying touches all of us. Sometimes it’s loud and ob...

Yesterday was one of those rare, quiet days. No treatments, no injections, no clinic visits. Just a slow walk with Pinky and the dogs, and by 3:30 I was back in my pajamas. My girls are scattered across the world, exhausted from exams and freezing in the snow. Kayla is at ‑8°C, Kitty at ‑1°C, and Kira at 8°C with snow predicted. It’s Kitty’s first time seeing snow, and she just cannot get warm. To...

✨  Episode 13 is live!  In this conversation, I open up about resilience, imperfect routines, and the reality of living through change. From crooked Christmas trees to time‑loop doctor visits, it’s raw, honest, and deeply human. 🎙️ Listen to  When The Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me  on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Afripods, YouTube, Substack & Medium. 🌐 Connect with me: Instagram  @jetaim...

In today’s podcast you’ll hear the vacuum in the background, Inanda barking — real life, unfiltered. Hi, my name is Jetaime. Once an IFBB athlete, a former Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion in my age group in the USA, and a provincial powerlifter. Someone recently reminded me I even did the Bear Grylls race in the UK — I had completely forgotten about that. I was also a busy mom of three ju...

In this podcast I’m speaking softly so I don’t disturb other patients — you’ll hear the beep of the laser machine in the background. It’s a long one today with the drip. Hi, my name is Jetaime and this is my 11th podcast. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion in my age group in the USA, and a provincial powerlifter. I was also a busy mom of three junior elite triathletes, ...

Hi, my name is Jetaime. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion, and provincial powerlifter. I thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control. Until my body and mind unexpectedly took a break — no warning, no time to prepare — and with it came life‑altering changes. This episode is imperfect, like my life. I share what it feels like to hear my daughters’ voices in the ni...

Once, I was an IFBB athlete, a Warrior Elite winner, an OCR World Champion in my age group in the USA, and a provincial powerlifter. I was also a busy mom of three junior elite triathletes, now studying as student‑athletes in the USA. My life thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control. And then my body and mind just… stopped. No warning. No time to prepare. And with it came life‑altering c...

✨ Good morning ✨ Yesterday was a rare, chilled day — no treatments, no injections, no clinic visits, just a quiet walk with Pinky and the dogs before slipping back into pajamas by mid‑afternoon. My girls are scattered across the world, exhausted from exams and braving the cold: Kayla at ‑8°C, Kitty at ‑1°C seeing snow for the first time, and Kira at 8°C with snow predicted. As I watch their resi...

Hi, my name is Jetaime. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior Elite winner, OCR World Champion in my age group, and a provincial powerlifter. I was also a busy mom of three junior elite triathletes—now studying as student‑athletes in the USA. I thrived on being busy, on organisation, on control. Until my body and mind unexpectedly decided to take a break. No warning. No time to prepare. And with it came l...

As I prepare for this new type of race — life — my days are filled with searching. Doctor’s appointments, treatments, and endless research become small steps toward hope, even if it’s just a one percent improvement. I think of my daughters often, the bond we share shaping conversations that feel naturally understood, and reminding me why I keep trying. My husband is my anchor, steady in his own wa...

There’s nothing worse than waking up feeling awful, reaching for medication, and starting the day in a negative state. My mornings now begin with small rituals — a cappuccino, opening the blinds, snuggling Nova, watching the clouds and trees sway. These moments remind me that even though my old life of constant motion is gone, passion and purpose still live within me. I’m learning to reimagine str...

Welcome back, dear listener. This is my fourth podcast,  When the Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me . You may hear my puppy chewing on a hoof, the fan humming, or even a lawnmower outside — because this is real life, and I’m keeping it real. Each week I share a chapter of my journey — it is not polished perfection, but an authentic account of resilience, vulnerability, and courage. This episod...

Life changed overnight. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior elite winner, OCR World Champion, and provincial powerlifter, I thrived on control, discipline, and being “the strong one.” But illness forced me to slow down, reshaping my identity and revealing the hidden anchors of love, family, and resilience. In this podcast, I share my journey of loss and gratitude — the sacrifices, the frustrations, and...

In this episode, I invite you onto my Juliet balcony — a place I never imagined would become my refuge. Surrounded by the sounds of wind, trees, and even a glimpse of the ocean, I reflect on how life changed overnight. Once an IFBB athlete, Warrior elite winner, OCR World Champion, and provincial powerlifter, I thrived on control, organization, and being “the strong one.” But when my body and mind...

This is my first podcast. It might not be perfect — I’m learning and experimenting, just as I am navigating my life. Thank you for listening and walking this path with me. When the Strongest Person I Knew Was Gone — Me  is a raw and honest journey through resilience, loss, and rediscovery. It begins with the sudden absence of my brother, whose promising career was cut short, and unfolds into my ow...