Barbara Guerra - Inspirational Fitness Competitor

[sucher67]

***The next time anyone is too tired to go to the gym, or you start complaining about how hard your day was, then open this thread.***

Barbara Geurra is worth taking some time to learn about. This small video is a good start:

Play:1144164542-BarbGuerra.wmv (If someone could tell me how to make a preview, I would be thankful).

Having had an electrical accident while living in Pasadena, Texas when she was 2 years old, Barb lost both of her arms. Guerra, however, does not consider herself handicapped, and when the National NPC called down to let the Texas NPC know about Guerra entering the contest, Texas chairman Michael Johnston said "bring it on" embracing her entry into the show.



She won her class at the 2004 John Sherman Classic, and placed 5th in the NPC Fitness category at the 2005 Europa Super Show.





I am not the type to give out negative rep points, but post stupid comments in this thread and I will start distributing some... I write this because some people don't know their boundaries very well. Please make sure this woman gets the respect she deserves.

[sucher67]

No stopping her

Barbara Guerra embraces life despite lack of arms

by Steve Wilson
Republic Columnist

The mantel in Barbara and Mark Guerra's living room in Mesa is attractively decorated with bouquets, pictures and knickknacks. She arranged everything, including the flowers.

"How'd you do that?" I asked.

"I had a stepladder," she said, dodging the question.

"But how'd you do it?" I repeated.

"Very carefully," she smiled.

Barb is a vibrant 22-year-old wife and mother who teaches aerobics and does just about everything most of us do. Only she does it without arms, which were amputated two decades ago.

"Everyone's got limitations, not just me," she said. "I probably have fewer than most people. I've learned that if there's something I want to do, I'll find a way."

Barb's feet are also her hands. She plays the piano, drives to work with an unrestricted license, types on a computer keyboard, dresses herself and Jordan (her 2½-year-old son), puts on makeup, peels potatoes, prepares meals and writes elegantly with a pen between her toes.

Her husband, Mark, said she inspires him daily.

"Barb doesn't let anything stop her," he said. "What gets me the most is how she can shave her legs and never cut herself. It's amazing."

She was a typical toddler in 1979, eager to explore everything around her home in suburban Houston. One summer day, she wandered out of her yard and down the sidewalk to an electrical substation where a friend was playing.

He had climbed up a transformer. She started up and came in contact with live power lines.

"There was this huge boom, and she was blown across the sidewalk," said her mother, Pat Steinsholt. "Her eyes were rolling and her arms were badly burned. When we reached the hospital, the doctors said virtually every organ in her body was damaged and she might not live. If she did live, we were told she would probably be a vegetable."

Doctors also said her arms absorbed so much of the 7,000-volt shock they would have to be amputated.

"I remember feeling totally devastated," her mother said. "Then, I made up my mind. I said, 'God, this child is going to recover and be somebody.'

Growing up wasn't easy.

"I didn't like being different, didn't think it was fair," Barb said. "Other kids could be pretty mean. They'd whisper, stare and point. They did stuff like pushing me down at a drinking - fountain to see how I'd get up. I would sometimes cry or hours. I didn't have a lot of self-confidence."

Still she persevered and was a good student, due partly to her mother's insistence that she take charge of her life.

"A lot of parents would feel sorry for their child and do everything for them. My mom wouldn't.

By the time she was 12, Barb played the piano well enough with her feet to give a recital at church for 300 people. When she finished Chariots of Fire, the audience was standing and tears were flowing.

Taking care of Jordan is now her biggest challenge, but he has made the job easier. When he was 5 months old he somehow sensed the need to put his arm around her neck so she could pick him up. How he knew to do that is a wonderful mystery.

She changes his diapers with more speed and dexterity than most of us can manage with our hands.

Although she has tried different prostheses, none has felt comfortable or enabled her to do things she couldn't do with her feet. So, she prefers not to use them.

Barb drives with one foot on the wheel, the other on the accelerator and "gets a lot of funny looks." The fact that her instructor said she drove better than anyone in the class with arms says something about her. The fact that she seldom parks in handicapped spaces says more.

"I don't think I'm any more handicapped than other drivers," she said. "I can walk just fine."

She also has a good sense of humor. When people ask whether they can give, her a hand she sometimes answers, "Yes, how about two?"

Mark has his own dry humor. When they come out of a store and he has bags in his hands, he will walk by other shoppers and sometimes mutter to his wife, "How come I have to carry everything?"

When they first met, Mark asked whether she wanted to go horseback riding, then realized that might be impossible and said he would understand if she didn't want to go.

She said not to worry. They went riding, and she held the horse's reins in her mouth.

Losing her arms has contributed heavily to her spiritual faith.

"When I was younger, I was mad at God for letting this happen to me," she says. Now, I see he had a plan. So many people have told me I've inspired them. They say things like, 'Seeing you makes my day.' Or, 'If you can do that, then I can do this.'

The doctors couldn't explain how Barb was able to recover from the accident that nearly took her life, but I have an idea. As severely as she was injured, one vital part of her body escaped serious harm. It grew stronger and stronger, more dominant, more than compensating for her handicap.

She's got some kind of heart.

Text source: The Arizona Republic
Printed: June 1st, 1999

[oronhey]

All the credit in the world to her. I don't know if I would have that type of grit and determination.

[Haystack]

Absolutely amazing. She takes away every excuse the a couch potato and lazy teenager could have for not taking care of themselves. Any idea how she worked out her chest, back, and shoulders? Tell her story to all of the do-nothings that you know. Reps to the poster and all congratulations to Barbara Guerra.

[patman5150]

Truly inspiring. What an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing this families story with all of us.

[Derkylides]

Peple like her shame the rest of us who think 'bad genetics' are a good excuse not to reach our potential. Some time ago I came across a video about a young man who is a quadruple amputee, and he can do things I cannot.
Great post; amazing girl.

[sf450]

great story, good luck to her

[rogerroger]

Just watched the video, this is one absolutely remarkable and inspirational woman. A double-thumbs up from me

[nos4raw2]

We could all learn a thing or two from Barbara.

[mo8SeS]

Inspirational post sucher67...nice to see at this time of year particularly...Barbara is an encouragement and bright shining beacon to all of us, Tks!

[xjangel]

We should give her a shout out to show our respect towards her because what she has done is better than great.
Having a lack of arms, she lives her life like anyone else, embraced it as if she had arms and cherished it as much as we do, even more than us.
We should respect her for her courage to try, her determination and her achievement because many of us would have given up from the beginning without trying anything.

Miss Guerra, if you happen to see this message, you have all my respect.
You're for sure an angel of our dear Lord and a source for inspiration.
Wishes you the best for the future.

[ppsuprise]

hey cool i went to that show and saw her in person there, when i saw her doing her routine its was inspirational to see someone in her situation strive to still be the best at what she does.

[TOWNROBBED]

All Hats Off To This Young Lady. I, And Everyone Else Have To And Must Admire Her Persistent Courage And Determination. She Is A Real Example Of What We Are All Capable Of Doing And Achieving If We Use Our God Given Abilities To Do So. Anyone That Would Dare Criticize This Young Lady Needs To Be Publicly Stoned By The Masses.
God Bless Her And The Others Like Her, That Put The Rest Of Us In A Class Just Below Them. Because They Have Obiously Learned Something Along The Way That The Majority Of Us Have Not.
She Is And Should Be An Inspiration To Us All, Especiallly Some OF Us Men.

God Bless Her !!!!!

Townrobbed

[gYmgIrL]

wow

[Mean Machine]

Wowsas, an incredibly motivating and moving story of success and positive attitudes to life when to a lot of people it would be like the end of the world. People should just remember this woman whenever self doubt enters there mind, respect to this woman, she is what i call a real winner.

[sohail]

a BIG REPECT to u barbara guerra, u r a true motivating angel

[burnt_thru]

This woman is truely deserving of that overused epitat "inspirational". Nice one for posting this Sucher.

[Bravo]

*Bump*

Barb Guerra - 2004 John Sherman Classic Tall Fitness Champion From Mesa,
AZ, Barb Guerra traveled with her friend Melissa Lehrer to compete at the John
Sherman Classic, but she was by no means an outsider.


Having had an electrical accident while living in Pasadena,Texas when she was 2-
years-old, Barb lost both of her arms. Guerra however, does not consider herself
handicapped, and when the National NPC called down to let the Texas NPC know
about Guerra entering the contest, Texas chairman Michael Johnston said "bring
it on" embracing her entry into the show. Guerra initially was inspired by seeing
girls in the magazines but was most driven by the comments of a naysayer who
told her that "you will never win, so why even do it."


She also watched some handicapped shows, but wanted to compete in an open
contest. Barb loves being on stage and is working on new gymnastics tricks for
next year. Her choreographer Lashona is a Soul Train dancer, so expect some
wicked moves. Guerra is also the mother of two boys, one 8- and one 4-years
-old. So while being a mother, working out and practicing her routines, she's also
somehow had time to get ready for her upcoming wedding in March.

[stratorock]

This Girl Is Strong, she's an influence please take more attention, she´s a example of life.

[Herzog, BN]

I am Brazilian and the language of my country is Portuguese. Guerra in English means WAR and the Barbara Guerra is a Guerreira = Warrior