My name is Tom Watkins. I was initially injured in
Vietnam during my tour of duty. My leg was blown up, but I managed to recover most of my mobility. After leaving the military I decided to become a police officer. I loved this job and it was my passion. On my 30th year on the force I was supposed to retire, but I decided to do another six months because I just wasn’t ready. One month later I was shot with a shotgun and my leg had to be amputated. My life crumbled around me and I didn’t know what to do. I had worked out most of my life. I couldn’t walk well. I felt embarrassed, disgusting, and was in the worst shape of my life both mentally and physically. I felt like my life was over. One day I called Gold’s Gym of Frederick. I spoke to Chris Maddox on the phone and he told me that he was a fireman and that he could help me. I scheduled an appointment and never showed. I was too embarrassed. I was in and out of the hospital for problems with my stump. Chris called me over and over for four months before I finally showed up at the gym after numerous cancelled appointments. Chris took a look at my stump right away and told me that I had no use for my cane and there was no reason I shouldn’t be walking. He wasn’t disgusted in the slightest and was brutally honest with me. This gave me the courage for appointment number two. I came into Gold’s and some people were looking at me and I was really embarrassed. Chris knew something was wrong and asked me what my problem was. I told him I was disgusting people. Chris told me that the only reason people were looking was because they were curious, not because it was disgusting. The next person that looked he asked them what they were looking at and the guy said what happened. Chris was right. This gave me the courage to really get started. The next appointment Chris took my cane and locked it in his office. This made me a little mad, but he proved to me that I walked better and more normal without it. I was amazed at what was happening. This is when I realized I could do anything I put my mind to. Chris always asked would you rather have a bad heart or a missing leg? This made me feel much better about the all of the people recovering form heart attacks in the gym. I was better off then them. After months and months of training I ordered my running leg from the Va and am getting ready for a marathon that Gold’s is putting on just for me. I never thought I would be able to walk normal, let alone run. I feel like a new person. I am confident, happy, and healthy, all things that I wasn’t before I stepped foot in Gold’s Gym. I told Chris that he saved my life, he laughed, but it was true. I now have a second chance and a second family at Gold’s. I look forward to every second I spend in that gym. I have my life back.
