Star N.B. athlete loses vision, but gains strength
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Aaron Boulanger dreamed about a long career in the military until a brain tumour left him blind.
Two years ago, the former Oromocto High School star athlete was a 25-year-old officer cadet stationed in Victoria, B.C.
A cluster of tumours “started in his spine and spread right up to the centre of his brain,” said Michelle Boulanger, his mom.
“The brain tumour is inoperable, so they did radiation to melt it,” she said. “All the smaller ones on his spine melted, but the one right on the pineal gland is stable.
“But by the time they finally figured out what was wrong with him, he had already lost his vision. There was no going back from that. He’s totally blind.”
“It’s been a roller-coaster since then,” said Aaron, now 27. “It wasn’t the diagnosis that was so devastating. It was more the vision loss and having to depend on somebody else to get me around. I was no longer independent.”
Michelle flew out west to be with her middle son.
“He was alone … he needed his mom,” she said. “So I spent five months out there with him.”
When Aaron returned home to Oromocto, his self-esteem was shot, his strength zapped, his confidence shattered.
But Michelle knew he had to start somewhere — and that somewhere was working out twice a week with Full Body Fitness personal trainer Derek Wilson.
“This was probably the best thing I did after getting out of the hospital,” Aaron said. “Getting back in shape, getting some energy back … feeling good about myself again.”
On Tuesday, Aaron entered the gym, tapping his white cane in front. But he left it in the gym lobby, placing his hand on Wilson’s shoulder to keep him steady as they moved from station to station throughout a one-hour workout.
“He’s extremely motivating,” Wilson said. “When he started he could barely get up the stairs he was so heavy from the drugs (steroids) they had given him. He was weak as a kitten, had no stamina, no strength. He was really down and out.”
Aaron has shed about 55 pounds since he started working out, but, just as importantly, is stronger mentally.
“When we started, Derek was a personal trainer and psychologist combined,” Aaron said. “Just to get all this stuff out and talk to somebody about it made me feel better.”
“He wasn’t optimistic at all initially,” Wilson said. “Changing his frame of mind didn’t happen overnight. But now he looks forward to his workouts and his outings for golfing … doing things you wouldn’t think somebody would be able to do without their vision.
“He does them and he doesn’t break stride. It’s impressive to watch. His strength is going up. Every single week, he sets personal bests in one exercise or multiple exercises.”
Aaron isn’t idle outside of the gym. He does chores around the house and has a part-time job at the base — distributing sports gear and washing dirty equipment — until he’s permanently released.
“I get outside every chance I can,” Aaron said. “You can do anything you put your mind to. I’m adapting. It took a long time but my confidence is getting back up.”
“He’s always been an optimist, very laid-back and easy going,” Michelle said. “So he was determined to adapt. He amazes everybody. I’m extremely proud. He’s done a lot. He keeps me going, that’s for sure.”
Once a stalwart defenceman and captain of the OHS Blues hockey team, Aaron also excelled in baseball, football and rugby.
“His name is on all kinds of trophies in the OHS trophy case,” his mom said.
He was a hockey referee, as well.
“Fans used to yell, ‘Hey, ref you’re blind.’ Now it’s actually true,” Aaron said with a grin.
The prognosis is promising, though. The brain tumour “has been stable for a year now,” Michelle said. “He goes for MRIs once a year and his oncologist is optimistic. She said everything is fine right now.”
UNB student to research how exercise may aid soldiers with PTSD
Backed by a prestigious research award, a University of New Brunswick student is embarking on a study to determine how exercise can help soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Lieutenant Terry Fitzpatrick, a kinesiology student at UNB, has a deeply personal interest in the subject – he suffers from PTSD himself after a tour in Afghanistan a decade ago.
“I may never be cured,” says Mr. Fitzpatrick, “but as long as I am making life a little easier for myself and other soldiers to live with PTSD – that’s what’s important.”
Mr. Fitzpatrick’s proposed research towards his master’s degree focuses on the factors that enable and hinder soldiers suffering from PTSD from participating in physically active leisure and sport. His research will also focus on how sport and physically active leisure help soldiers combating post-traumatic stress disorder.
His proposal has attracted a national research award – $17,500 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
“Terry is one of the most accomplished, hard-working, self-motivated, and dedicated students I have worked with in my 15 years at UNB,” says Dr. Shannon-McCallum, a UNB kinesiology professor who will supervise the research. “But what I appreciate even more about Terry is that he so sincerely cares about others and is passionate about making a difference – including with his research. I’m really looking forward to sharing in his research journey.”
Mr. Fitzpatrick’s proposed research has stemmed from the lack of Canadian studies focusing on PTSD. His research will take a phenomenological approach to try to understand soldiers’ “lived experiences” to understand what they go through and their approach to physically active leisure and sport.
Mr. Ftizpatrick hopes to recruit solders from three Canadian Forces Bases including Gagetown, Petawawa and Edmonton. “I hope to gain a better understanding as to what other barriers and enablers that soldiers presently perceive in their lives that prevent them from engaging in physically active leisure and sport”, says Mr. Fitzpatrick, “or what enables them in participating”.
Mr. Fitzpatrick, who toured Afghanistan with the military in 2007 and is still serving in the Canadian Forces today, has earned attention for his commitment to his studies, to his community and to the field of kinesiology.
In 2016, he was named a Sir Howard Douglas Scholar at UNB for academic excellence and his contributions to community and he was saluted by Recreation NB for his contributions to the field of recreation in New Brunswick through volunteer activities, work experiences or studies.
“Terry is an extremely driven individual who has established ambitious goals in his personal, professional and academic life,” says Dean of Kinesiology Dr. Wayne Albert. “His military-based discipline contributes to his standard for high achievement. Terry also uses his academic talents to give back in the community, a trait that has made him a Sir Howard Douglas Scholar. I have a strong sense that the master’s degree will not be his terminal degree.”
Mr. Fitzpatrick is scheduled to start his research in September.
Photo: Lieutenant Terry Fitzpatrick UNB master’s student. (Rob Blanchard / UNB Photo)
Media contact: Allie Murchison, allie.murchison@unb.ca, (506) 453-5141