Samantha Lenik was 39 when her body was likened to that of a 60-year-old. The mum-of-two was trapped in the body of an older woman and she was deteriorating — quickly. She was told there was nothing she could do but enjoy what life she had left with her family.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The mum could barely comprehend what the doctors were telling her. She had always led a healthy and active lifestyle and now she felt like her body was wasting away before her eyes. “I could feel myself declining,” Samantha tells 7Life of her rare genetic condition, Pompe disease , which causes muscle weakness.
“I was slower on my feet and struggling to breathe. “I had a young family and I just wanted to be the best mum I could for my kids.” Despite the Kiwi being told there was no hope in slowing the progression of her condition, she couldn’t sit back and do nothing.
Instead, with the help of some incredible specialists in Adelaide, Samantha has defied the odds and, now with two teenagers, she says her legs have done more than just keep her up. After giving birth to her first baby, Samantha was determined to get her pre- pregnancy body back. The active new mum threw herself into daily gym, Pilates and aerobics sessions, and fuelled her body with all the ‘right’ foods.
Despite consistent exercise and a perfectly balanced diet, Samantha was still feeling sluggish. She struggled to catch her breath, would occasionally fall over and was constantly feeling .