| Lisa Siddell |
| birthdate: |
| location: |
| when did you start powerlifting: |
| federations: |
| best competition lifts: |
| best gym lifts: |
| February 1956 |
| Rio Rancho, NM |
| My first meet was in March 1993 |
| NASA |
| 215 bench @ 133 bw |
| 315 squat, 385 deadlift |
| sum it all up for us: |
Webster describes motivation as "An inner drive, impulse, etc...that causes one to act in a certain way". To be motivated, you must have incentive, goals
and above all...drive.
At Cherry's Health and Fitness in Rio Rancho , New Mexico, several others and I have rec.eived the most inspirational sense of motivation in the person of
Lisa Siddell. Standing only 4'11" at 37 years of age, this stronger than normal little woman has set both New Mexico State and American records in the
bench press in more than one federation.
Six months ago, this remarkable person, after having been sporadically ill and suffering from severe headaches, fought off the pains for as long as she
could. She gave into the inevitable and made an appointment with a neurologist, who after an MRI, discovered that Lisa was in possession of a massive
acoustic neuroma involving the nerves leading to the right side of her face. This tumor measured just over 3 cm and had forced the brain to move over 1/2".
It was also against the spine, threatening to end everything she had.
Without delay, the doctors immediately admitted Lisa into the hospital for emergency surgery. After the necessary people were contacted and briefed, the
surgery began.
8-1/2 hours later, the neurosurgeon came into the waiting room and informed me that my best friend, my workout partner, my companion and my wife had
just endured a more difficult operation than they had anticipated.
He told me that she would recover, but not without losing the use of the right side of her face. This included her hearing and the control over her right eye.
The shock of seeing her in her present condition chilled me to a point of tears. All of Lisa's friends from the gym visited the hospital to wish her a warm
recovery. Sadly, for the first week she could not respond.
Miraculously, she began to improve day after day, week after week, with surprisingly amazing results. Within four weeks she had returned to work, and
after 5 weeks, against doctors orders, she returned to the gym. That first day back nobody recognized her. She had no hair remaining and an 8" incision on
the back of her head. It was easy to see by the faces of everyone that they were uncomfortable with her presence.
Lisa was hurt by the sense of abandonment she felt, but decided to work harder than ever. Soon, everyone began to realize how truly dertermined and fixed
she really was. This did not come easy and again another setback insued. It was necessary for her to have surgery again, this time to correct the loss of
control that her right eye had developed during the operation.
The eye surgery was successful and again Lisa returned to the gym with even more drive than before. Over the past few months, Lisa hasn't slowed down
in the least, working her way to new heights daily.
This month, we will be competing again and I know how important it will be for Lisa to be rewarded for her hard work. As for the rest of us, we will all so
well just knowing that we won't ever quit.
Lisa's never ending sense of tenacity has proven to be the key to successful motivation for the many of us who admire her. For the lifters who have been
united as a family, that train with her and have the utmost admiration for her, they see her as a light. As for me...I am thankful, not only for her life, but
also for all that I have learned. I will never be as strong as I am at this moment. We must all take Lisa's example of never quitting to heart.
Carlos Siddell
Rio Rancho NM
"Savage the body...Civilize the mind"
and above all...drive.
At Cherry's Health and Fitness in Rio Rancho , New Mexico, several others and I have rec.eived the most inspirational sense of motivation in the person of
Lisa Siddell. Standing only 4'11" at 37 years of age, this stronger than normal little woman has set both New Mexico State and American records in the
bench press in more than one federation.
Six months ago, this remarkable person, after having been sporadically ill and suffering from severe headaches, fought off the pains for as long as she
could. She gave into the inevitable and made an appointment with a neurologist, who after an MRI, discovered that Lisa was in possession of a massive
acoustic neuroma involving the nerves leading to the right side of her face. This tumor measured just over 3 cm and had forced the brain to move over 1/2".
It was also against the spine, threatening to end everything she had.
Without delay, the doctors immediately admitted Lisa into the hospital for emergency surgery. After the necessary people were contacted and briefed, the
surgery began.
8-1/2 hours later, the neurosurgeon came into the waiting room and informed me that my best friend, my workout partner, my companion and my wife had
just endured a more difficult operation than they had anticipated.
He told me that she would recover, but not without losing the use of the right side of her face. This included her hearing and the control over her right eye.
The shock of seeing her in her present condition chilled me to a point of tears. All of Lisa's friends from the gym visited the hospital to wish her a warm
recovery. Sadly, for the first week she could not respond.
Miraculously, she began to improve day after day, week after week, with surprisingly amazing results. Within four weeks she had returned to work, and
after 5 weeks, against doctors orders, she returned to the gym. That first day back nobody recognized her. She had no hair remaining and an 8" incision on
the back of her head. It was easy to see by the faces of everyone that they were uncomfortable with her presence.
Lisa was hurt by the sense of abandonment she felt, but decided to work harder than ever. Soon, everyone began to realize how truly dertermined and fixed
she really was. This did not come easy and again another setback insued. It was necessary for her to have surgery again, this time to correct the loss of
control that her right eye had developed during the operation.
The eye surgery was successful and again Lisa returned to the gym with even more drive than before. Over the past few months, Lisa hasn't slowed down
in the least, working her way to new heights daily.
This month, we will be competing again and I know how important it will be for Lisa to be rewarded for her hard work. As for the rest of us, we will all so
well just knowing that we won't ever quit.
Lisa's never ending sense of tenacity has proven to be the key to successful motivation for the many of us who admire her. For the lifters who have been
united as a family, that train with her and have the utmost admiration for her, they see her as a light. As for me...I am thankful, not only for her life, but
also for all that I have learned. I will never be as strong as I am at this moment. We must all take Lisa's example of never quitting to heart.
Carlos Siddell
Rio Rancho NM
"Savage the body...Civilize the mind"
| weight class: |
| 127.8 - 138.8 |
| records: |
| General Comments: |
The one thing I really love about this sport is the support you get
from other lifters. I've been very lucky in life, not only medically
but also for the friends that I have. The have all been very
supportive throughout these last few years and even when I felt
like I couldn't go on, my fellow lifters helped me to get where I
needed to be.
My husband and my family have also been the light in my
darkness. They have always believed in meand would not let me feel
self-pity. I was always afraid of disappointing them. I knew that I
couldn't quit because I didn't want to.
Thanks Rich, for giving me this outlet that I needed.
~This quote was from an interview with Lisa.
from other lifters. I've been very lucky in life, not only medically
but also for the friends that I have. The have all been very
supportive throughout these last few years and even when I felt
like I couldn't go on, my fellow lifters helped me to get where I
needed to be.
My husband and my family have also been the light in my
darkness. They have always believed in meand would not let me feel
self-pity. I was always afraid of disappointing them. I knew that I
couldn't quit because I didn't want to.
Thanks Rich, for giving me this outlet that I needed.
~This quote was from an interview with Lisa.
| For this, I chose to use something written by Carlos Siddell on October 30, 1995. After you read it, I am sure you will understand why. |
| NASA NM State, American & World 119.0 Pure 187 bench |
| NASA NM State 127.8 Pure 192.5 bench |
| NASA NM State, American & World 119.0 Novice 170.5 bench |
| NASA NM State 127.8 Natural 181.5 bench |
| NASA NM State & American 138.8 Natural 200.2 bench |
| NASA NM State, American & World 119.0 Submasters 2 187 bench |
| NASA NM State 127.8 Submasters 2 192.5 bench |
| NASA NM State & American 127.8 Masters 1 198 bench |
| NASA World 127.8 Masters 1 187 bench |
| NASA NM State & American 138.8 Natural 214.5 bench |
| NASA NM State & American 119.0 Masters Pure 170.5 bench |
| NASA NM State & American 127.8 Masters Pure 198 bench |
| NASA NM State 138.8 Masters Pure 192.5 bench |
