My name is Jamie Baker. I am a tennis professional. In August, I played at the Odlum Brown at Hollyburn Country Club. I’m 25 years old and am ranked around 186 in the ATP Men’s rankings.
We all know despair. I experienced it when I least expected it. I defied all odds. I’m still stunned by it… but I’m here to tell you that even when all the odds are against you, all is possible and miracles do happen.
It started 4.5 years ago. I was ranked 220 in the world. My best ranking had been 185. I was 21, fit, happy and on a fabulous roll – I just won 12 matches in a row. It doesn’t get better than that.
Out of nowhere the symptoms began – swelling, bleeding, fatigue, “red” teeth, easy bruising. A possible diagnosis was leukemia. I actually felt fine inside, but my body was falling apart.
I had a rare blood disease, called ITP – a platelet count that was so very, very low, that my diagnosis was terminal. I was told that if I bumped my head, internal bleeding could not be stopped and I was instructed to lie totally still in bed for 36 hours – having been competing on a tennis court 5 days before.
I defied all the odds and got better. It took me 2.5 years to slowly re-build.
One day, I turned to my coach and said, “It’s over, I feel normal”. I will remember that moment always.
I had post-traumatic stress (or so Bev says) and the depression and panic attacks were real.
Today, I write to you to say, never give up. Miracles happen. It’s true that all is possible. Such gratitude – this feeling came to me. Now I want to give it to you.
