How do a couple about to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary earn the coveted title “Title Littleton Members of the Month”? It’s actually an interesting story.
Last summer, Wayne Stockwell, 61, was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. This medical condition manifests in many different ways, but for Wayne the disease affected his lungs making it difficult to take a deep breath, to function at his usual high-energy rate, and even to work—which was particularly devastating because he is self-employed. Several doctors appointment with a variety of specialists, blood tests, health assessments and even a biopsy of the lungs confirmed the diagnosis but provided no real treatment.
But a conversation with a friend encouraged Wayne to try a different approach. “Fight back.”
In July of 2019, Wayne decided to go for a walk. The Stockwells live near Oak Hill Conservation Land and walking the various trails had been something that the couple often did. In fact, in 2015 they dedicated themselves to hiking to Lookout Rock, with its 30 mile view of Boston, every day! They missed just 3 days out of the 365 that year. Many of their photos can be viewed on Instagram by searching the hashtag #theoakhillproject. But Wayne’s condition had prevented him from enjoying those trails for several months. But that was about to change.
“I got this text with a selfie of him on top of Lookout Rock,” Bernadette said. “I was stunned! And thrilled.”
Pretty much since that day, Wayne dedicated himself to some form of daily exercise. That turned in to a deeper appreciation for all of his health, including diet.
In August, he and Bernadette signed up for an app to help modify their diet and their exercise. Using psychology as a basis, the couple soon modified their lifestyle. And the pounds started dropping off. Their almost daily hikes on Oak Hill often topped 5, 6, even 7 miles. The symptoms of sarcoidosis diminished to the point where it was hardly noticeable. “I don’t get winded anymore. When I think back to that first walk, when I had to stop and catch my breath every twenty yards or so and now we just go nonstop the entire yellow trail- even twice, well it’s amazing.”
Fast forward to November when Bernadette said, “I’d like to find an activity for my upper body. The legs are good, but my shoulders and arms need a workout.”
Wayne said, “You should try boxing.”
On a Friday night, before her weekly grocery-shopping trip, she decided to stop in to ‘that place at The Point.’ The enthusiastic trainer Soto greeted her at the door and assured her that someone with her physical and health profile COULD box. She and Wayne signed up for a free trial the following Sunday.
“We were immediately hooked,” Wayne said. “We signed up for a membership and we’ve been coming 3 – 4 times a week ever since.”
Bernadette even gave Wayne 8 weeks of small group strength training as a Christmas gift. “I got him new gloves, too,” she said. “I had heard about the benefit of boxing when I read Bobby Bones book ‘Fail Until You Don’t,’ but I never in my wildest dreams thought that I’d be donning the gloves.”
“Thinking back to the first few days when we both were watching YouTube clips on how to wrap our hands, and now it’s second nature,” Wayne said. “It’s pretty amazing.”
“Title Boxing Club Littleton is fantastic,” Bernadette said. “I love how the trainers greet us every time that we walk through that door. And they’re so supportive, helpful, and knowledgeable.”
This summer, long-time Littleton residents the Stockwells are planning a trip to Disney World to celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary. “I truthfully wondered how I was going to make it to the American Pavilion. But that’s one of the things that motivated us while we were hiking.”
Now having lost a collective ‘small child’s worth of weight,’ the couple looks forward to a well-earned vacation where their boxing training will support their action-packed days in Orlando. And they look forward to earning their 100 Title visit landmark, and many, many more, too.