From Heart Failure to F45: Becky’s Journey of Unstoppable Strength
Sometimes, strength isn’t found in the gym. It’s found in the quiet moments - when you pack a hospital bag instead of a party dress, when you learn to walk again before you can run, and when you turn your pain into purpose. Becky knows this all too well.
At just 22, Becky went from vibrant and independent to being told her heart was failing - and failing fast. One day she was celebrating a birthday in Fiji, the next she was gasping for air on a flight to Auckland, unknowingly surviving with an ejection fraction of just 13%. The doctors told her she was lucky to be alive. We say she was born to fight.
“I couldn’t even walk up the stairs,” she says. “I’d always been active. Heart failure wasn’t even on my radar.” But when the diagnosis came, so did the decision - to not just survive, but thrive.
That decision didn't come easy. Hospital walls, panic attacks in supermarket aisles, and sleepless nights defined the early stages of her recovery. But what Becky lost in physical strength, she gained in perspective. She found solace in Rotary and Rotaract, building a new kind of community. One that didn’t just see her - but got her. They didn’t know the “before” version of Becky. They just knew the one who showed up. And that was enough.
Over the years, Becky slowly rewrote the definition of her strength. Two years to return to work. Three to dance again at Zumba. Six to smash an F45 class. And now? She’s 29, working in the disability sector, living independently, and sharing her story as a DEI&A speaker. Still on medication. Still navigating pressure drops and fatigue. But still here - and stronger than ever.
So when our charity collab with Heart Research UK launched, Becky didn’t just support it - she embodied it. Her voice, her presence, her lived experience became a beacon for others navigating life post-diagnosis. She showed us that strength isn’t loud. It’s consistent. It's resilient. It's Just Strong.
Her message for anyone who’s struggling?
“Enjoy the good days. Give yourself grace for the bad ones. And remember to live - because there is life on the other side of this.”
Becky, thank you for reminding us that strength isn’t about perfection - it’s about persistence. And for showing our community what it really means to be Just Strong.
