Name: James Hardin
Started Crossfit: April 2012
Favorite WOD: Linda, or any WOD that kicks my ass.
Least favorite WOD: any WOD that I do well on.
Favorite lift: deadliest
Least favorite lift: overhead squat
Story: I have to start by saying I am truly honored to have been chosen.
I was evacuated from Afghanistan in late December 2010 due to wounds sustained in an IED blast. An MRI revealed that I had a tumor in my c4 vertebrate along with the traumatic injuries sustained from the blast. I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. The tumor was growing rapidly and was putting pressure on the main arteries running to my brain. They told me they had to start treatment immediately or I would end up having a massive stroke and die. Over the next 9 months I underwent 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 20 rounds of radiation. In that time I dropped from 225 to 160 lbs. In February 2012 I had officially beaten the cancer. Eager to get back in shape, I decided to try crossfit. I checked out a few different boxes in San Antonio before coming to mission. Although some may not realize it, mission stands well above any other box I’ve been to. But it is not the facility or equipment that sets it apart. It’s the coaches. The amount of time and effort that they will put in to help someone is unparalleled. This time last year I had just finished chemo and had begun radiation. I weighed 166lbs. With the coaches guidance on lifting and nutrition I am now 195lbs and in better shape than I ever was. Ill end this by saying thank you to all the coaches for everything they’ve done and I wouldn’t be where I am today with out them.
