The Start of an Empire: Feeding Tube Fitness
My name is Hannah Setzer. I was born with a very rare medical condition called Cystic Hygroma of the head and neck. I've had over 50 surgeries in the past 28 years. I have had a feeding tube and tracheostomy tube since I was just a few days old. The doctors told my parents I wouldn't live very long, nor would I ever talk, or be active or lead a normal successful life. I'm pretty sure I came out of the womb stubborn because none of that sounded good to me. I've defied countless medical odds and have continued to live the life I've always wanted to live. I'm now a Disability Rights Advocate at Virginia's Protection and Advocacy agency for people with disabilities and it is the best job I could ever have!
I have always been active, running several half marathons over the past few years. In 2018 I decided to embark on a quest for 365 days of movement. Throughout this process I realized just how inaccessible the fitness community is for people with disabilities and medical conditions. On my own fitness journey I discovered the joys of strength training and have been loving challenging and strengthening my body like never before. I have also worked very hard to create a fully accessible fitness plan that can be done at home with no equipment. There is nothing special about the exercises I have put together, but I have written very detailed exercise descriptions, created videos, included pictures with ALT Text, and written it all at an accessible level and made it screen reader compatible. I am on a journey to build an accessible fitness empire.
Growing up there was nobody that looked like me in any public scene, especially in the fitness world. Even now, every fitness clothing or equipment website I visit only serves able bodied athletes. I am on a mission to change this! I want this generation and every generation after mine to see accessible athletes, models, Congressmen and women, and more! I'd love to connect with all you incredible athletes on Yoo Can Find! You can find me on Instagram at @feedingtube.fitness and on facebook at www.facebook.com/feedingtubefitness
