Sometimes seeing past troubles is harder than the troubles themselves. When one is constantly bombarded by challenges, one can hardly imagine the possibilities of a brighter future. But Patrick Sullens never lost hope.
Patrick Sullens has faced a great deal of challenges throughout his life, but he turned his adversities into stories of inspiration and is now uplifting lives across the globe. His story began in 2008 when he was hit by an 18-wheeler truck, leaving him with three major spinal fusions. The major injuries took him five hours to recover. A year later, he was hit again, this time by a drunk driver who flipped the car four times, causing multiple fractures in his neck and bruising his brain stem.
Following his second vehicular accident, Patrick Sullens experienced 16 outbreaks of shingles between 2014 to 2020. He hid his shingles outbreaks from others because he was ashamed of his condition and felt ugly, useless, and powerless against his condition. In 2018, he broke his ankle ligaments after showing an eight-year-old how to make a jump shot at a recreation center. In 2020, he received a brain stem rejuvenation treatment to finally stop his recurring shingles. The following year, he received an ankle reconstruction ligament surgery.
“During these challenges, I’ve found another avenue to remain healthy and strong. That is deadlifting and powerlifting,” he shared. “Hulking up at the gym is a therapy I wish I could describe to so many other people. A healthy way to excerpt stress while gaining healthy habits. Those who know my story and saw me pushing through the challenges understand my quote, ‘inspiration defines perseverance.'”
Throughout his difficult circumstances, Patrick Sullens always sought ways to leave an impact on his community. For nine years now, he served from Northeast Atlanta to Dawsonville, Georgia, as the Co-General Manager of RaceTrac. “Serving others and bringing smiles on faces daily is the platform I desire to wake up every morning to pursue. It’s also allowed me to network among several stores across the counties to network with some amazing people to support our communities,” he said.
Showing great perseverance and grit through his challenges, Patrick Sullens received multiple awards and recognitions. In 2018, he received the five-year Award from RaceTrac. He also became the Inductee Marquis Who’s Who of America in 2020 and was featured on the cover of the magazine in 2021. In the same year, he was named as one of the Top 100 Influential People, where he gained his title as The Emperial Hulk, and placed 15th in Mr. Health & Fitness Competition for Muscle & Fitness Magazine in powerlifting in the heavyweight division, even with a bad ankle. This year, he placed seventh in the same category while still healing from his ankle ligament surgery.
Despite the medical challenges, Patrick Sullens proved that anyone could lead healthier lives, and sometimes the therapy itself is the first step to leading such a lifestyle. His circumstances have never stopped him from chasing his goals. While on the path to healing, he also broadened his network by helping and serving his community and other communities, bringing locals together. Without a doubt, Patrick Sullens will continue to build on the inspiring legacy he has started, and his influence will continue to grow more communities worldwide.
