MY STORY AGAINST ALL ODDS

My name is Tim Marovt and TIIMSON is my childhood nickname.

I was born on December 7th, 2002, as the youngest of three siblings. From a young age, I was filled with boundless curiosity and joy, always eager to explore the world around me.

My passion for sports ignited when I took my first steps, and I haven’t looked back since. With boundless energy to spare, I eagerly seized every opportunity to play and develop new skills. I tried my hand at many different sports and even participated in various contests, always pushing myself to be my best.

During my childhood, my friends gave me the nickname “Timson,” which stuck with me and became a part of my identity.

I was dreaming to become a sports superstar. I wanted to be a champion skier known all around the world. I also loved and tried myself as a motocross rider.

At the age of just 10 years old, I achieved becoming a member of the National skiing team, as well as earning the title of National runner-up and Overall season winner.

I was marked as a top promising athlete by my coaches, recognizing my exceptional talent and potential in sports.

Family vacation in Hawaii takes tragic turn

At the young age of 12, my life took a sudden and dramatic turn while on a family vacation in Hawaii.

As I watched surfers on the beach, I felt a strong wish to try the sport myself. The thrill of the waves, the salty ocean air, and the excitement of a new adventure when I tried surfing for the first time…

BUT THEN, IN A SPLIT SECOND EVERYTHING CHANGED.
It was a defining moment that has changed the course of my life forever.

LOSING ALL MOBILITY IN MY LEGS

While climbing the surf, I felt something happened in my back and I started to have a very strange pain in my spine. I was somehow able to get back to my hotel room while trying to understand what has happened.

What occurred next was a nightmare – after a mere fifteen minutes, I tried to stand up from bed to use the restroom. To my shock, I immediately fell and realized I had lost all mobility in my legs. It was a a devastating experience for me.

I was immediately taken to hospital.

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SURFER´s MYELOPATHY, A TYPE OF SEVERE SPINAL CORD INJURY, A PROGNOSIS THAT MEANT LIFE IN A WHEELCHAIR.

Doctors told me that a vein in my spinal cord had been compressed and as a result, the nerves died which meant I was paralysed from the waist down. They told me something no one wants to ever hear in their lives, especially not a child with Olympic dreams: ” You will never walk again.”

My dreams were shattered, but I refused to let it defeat me.

DEEP INSIDE MY HEART AND MIND I CREATED A STRONG BELIEF THAT I WILL WALK AGAIN.

With grit and determination, I MADE A CHOICE TO DEFY THE ODDS. I refocused all my energy and my passion into A NEW POWERFUL VISION, one that would help me rise above myself and my circumstances. That choice marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life -a journey of recovery that would test my limits and challenge me in ways I never thought possible.

Our Work

TRANSFORMING MY VISION INTO REALITY

Transforming my vision into reality has been one of the most challenging journeys of my life, consuming my days, months, and years with rigorous physical training, including physiotherapy, self-exercises, and stretching devices, often pushing through pain to achieve my goals.

Almost a year later, on July 12th, 2015, I achieved the major milestone of taking my first steps without crutches.

Our Work

HOW I DID IT?

Against all odds, I defied medical expectations, regained my strength, and learned to walk again. I faced countless obstacles, from the stiffness of my muscles to the limitations on my movement.

With a sustained effort and a bit of ingenuity, I honed my own approach to visualization, sending a clear message to my legs that I need them and I count on them. I remained steadfast in my determination to overcome every challenge and reach my full potential.

With the support of my family, self-discipline, persistence, confidence, and a lot of hard work, I took my first steps without crutches a year after diagnosis.

Even though my walking is still difficult and challenging, it is improving every day. It was the power of mind that has changed my life, the very same power that we all possess within us and that makes us achieving things that once seemed impossible. I realised this along my journey, when I was communicating with my own legs and using different visualisation techniques.