Jackson Blizzard: Facing liver disease as an active motocross and weightlifting athlete
Sept 1, 2021
Jackson Blizzard – a 25-year-old active in weightlifting and motocross – shares how he faced the life-changing diagnosis of liver disease.
Jackson was initially diagnosed with Vanishing Bile Duct syndrome at 19 years old. Because of how his primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) presented itself, he wasn’t officially diagnosed until four years later. He originally only had fatigue and elevated lab results, and then later experienced symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis (UC). After being diagnosed with UC, doctors then concluded he had PSC.
Has sport always been a part of your life?
Yes, I originally started racing motocross at the age of 8 until I was 16. Motorcycles are a part of my family. My brother races and my father raced when he was younger too. My path to weightlifting started in the 7th grade when I wrestled to stay in shape for motocross. I wanted to pursue it more seriously, and continued wrestling through high school. After high school I dabbled in CrossFit, but I mainly enjoyed the Olympic Lifting aspect. Now I train roughly five days a week and compete when I have sufficient time away from my studies.
What does sport/competition mean to you?
Competition means a tremendous amount to me. Specifically, competing as an individual opposed to as a team. I love the idea that my success is reliant on my own work ethic and not a teammate. Recently, weightlifting has been a way of validating my health and proving to myself that I’m not “that sick”. It is almost an added bonus being able to best people that are healthy, knowing all the trials people with PSC go through.
How did you feel when you received your diagnosis?
When I received my initial diagnosis in 2015 I pushed it to the back of my mind and was naïve. It wasn’t a tremendous problem in my day-to-day life yet. I also had no gauge for how tired I really was, because losing weight for wrestling leaves you extremely fatigued. After graduation, this fatigue never left and I almost had learned to live with it. Recently I have started to consider the gravity of my diagnosis and have had times where it is overwhelming. But I’m surrounded by incredible people that care for, and support me.
Fatigue is one of the main symptoms that liver disease patients live with. How did you overcome that?
I think the best way of dealing with fatigue is planning your day accordingly and being regimented and strict with yourself. Another thing I often tell people is “you have to lie to yourself”. I try to be aware of my internal dialogue and redirect it in a positive direction if I notice it going south. If I start to feel tired, I will repeat positive affirmations in my head or out loud. “You’re fine, you can do this.” Another quote I love, from my favorite motivational speaker Eric Thomas is, “I can, I will, I must.” Eric Thomas, Inky Johnson and Les Brown have helped me tremendously and I listen to them daily.
What would you want to tell other PSC patients?
It’s okay and normal to be upset for a little while but don’t linger there for too long. Every day you spend down in the dumps is a day you could have spent enjoying the health you have. PSC is a progressive disease and each day you have is a gift. Sometime in the future you might be wishing you feel the way you do now.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
You have been given the gift of being aware of your own mortality. Many people’s lives end abruptly without truly enjoying their days, and that should be scarier than any PSC diagnosis.
Jackson Blizzard lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.
