Derek Weida
By: Morgan Bixler
Everyone has their battles
Everyone is fighting a battle. That battle be physical, emotional, or even financial. All these battles can be fought at home, at work, even in someone's head. Everybody has something they struggle with. Everybody has that one thing that they have let come into their lives and snowball to where it's the only thing they think about. That one struggle has now taken over their mind and not everyone can get overcome this. People deal with these problems or struggles on a daily basis. It's not the same for everyone. Even those people who seem to be perfect, they also have their own difficulties in their life. As the saying goes "No one is perfect". Thats okay. Everyone has goals they set up for themselves. However, if the work is not put into obtaining them or their actions don't match up with your plan, are they really your goals?
Derek Weida
Derek Weida enlisted in the army when he was just 17 years old. He wanted to do something bigger with his life. So he went to basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia and learned that he was good at pushing himself and at being a leader. He has gone through many battles throughout his life. A lot of us will not experience what he has been through. Derek Weida is an amputee Army Veteran who served 3 tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Unfortunately, during his last tour he was hit with a insurgents bullet which went side to side straight through his right knee which caused massive damage. He had many set backs. But his main focus was to get better and return to active duty, but he took a massive curve ball. Derek went through a countless number of failed surgeries, physical therapy, and rehab for about 18 months. But instead of cutting his leg off the doctors would want to do another surgery. Nothing worked so in December 2008, Derek was officially retired from the military forces. This news completely shattered Derek. He no longer had a purpose if he couldn't serve anymore. From the start of his injury he was clouded in depression. It got worse when he received the news. From 2009 through 2010 Derek was depressed, he was in jail a lot, he was in the psych wards quite a lot, his life was over in his eyes. Derek was angry, depressed, suicidal, and a drunk. December 2010 a guy that Derek served with asked him to do a fitness run. This was Derek's way out he thought. After going and accomplishing his goal and even reconnecting with some other fellow veterans everything started to go down hill. He destroyed whatever was left in his knee. On December 6, 2011 his leg was amputated. This gave him the the control over his life again. His progress was based on how far he was able to push himself and he was good at that so things started to pick up again. He then signed up for another fitness run three months later. He did about 6 miles on his leg and about 6 miles on his crutches. A article was written about this and it featured a quote he said which was " Yeah thats my leg in the bag over there".
Derek then moved back home to Minnesota. He began going back to the gym and thought about maybe having his own gym. Serving others is what had been missing in his life since being in the army. This gym could be a platform for serving people again. His story began spreading and he was even featured on the news. He became such an inspiration that a gym called Anytime Fitness came into contact with him. He now works there and holds many nonprofit organizations to help sponsor wounded warriors with PTSD, and other mental illnesses to work out at the gym, or even get a personal trainer. Derek also does cross fit and competes against other gyms with his group and often wins.
Derek Weida
Derek has a lot of fun doing what he does which also helps others overcome their obstacles.
Derek started at a very low place and look at him now!
He is very well known for one of his quotes, which is,"Its okay to fail, but not to quit!"
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He was featured in this magazine which helped him expand his business.