Justin Barnes

Justin is a personal trainer and fitness coach as well as being Shawna’s caregiver through the VA (Veterans Administration).

Justin really began his TBI journey when a “widow maker” (aka a dead tree) fell on his head while he was out with his step-son, Caden, clearing trees from around their home in Maine. He knew it was dead and took the necessary precautions, but the limb decided to bounce off the tree he was trying to slide it down when he cut it down and it came back and knocked him on the noggin.

This major blow to the head spidered the logging helmet that he was wearing. Had he not been wearing the helmet or been as strong as he was/is, Justin would likely not be here with us today.

Other contributing factors to the severity of his residual/likely permanent symptoms are the years of playing tackle football in high school and college, as well as multiple falls during his childhood.

Justin began his journey into training and coaching as a youth football couch. After his accident, he interned at Hybrid Fitness as he pursued a variety of certifications related to the industry. He loved his time there but the driving go to be too much and he had to reluctanly step down from his position there. While working at Hybring he met Beth Feraco.

Beth branched off and started her own online personal training and nutrition coaching program and hired Justin as an assistant coach for Beth Feraco Fitness.

Justin has found his passion in helping those with disabilities find accessible means of exercising through adpatation and creative problem solving. He continues to give back to the TBI and chronic illness communities by helping those affected navigate a healthier way of living so they can pursue their best quality of life.

Believe it or not, we met on Match . com! When Shawna first got out of the Army, her health was not stable AT ALL. She had to move back in with her parents and was unable to drive to her seizures. She thought using an online dating app would be the best way to meet someone.

That someone happened to be Justin. Justin sent her a message asking about the phoenix tattoo that could just barely be seen on her right bicep/tricep in one of her pictures. Shawna nearly didn’t reply because some of his pictures made him look like a goofball. Shawna has a son from a previous marriage and was looking for something serious. Needless to say, it’s a good thing she decided to chance it!

Justin lived four hours away and made the drive up to where Shawna was staying with her folks and a few of her younger sisters. We took a walk in the woods (this was before Shawna developed leg weakness that is associated/attributed to the myasthenia gravis) and basically laid it all out. Shawna’s health issues. Justin had just been laid off from work and was dealing with some of his own baggage. And surprisingly neither one of us got scared off!

Two years later, on 10 August 2013, we got married in a small-ish ceremony at our home in northern Maine.

Justin has only ever known Shawna in her current state – not healthy. This is actually where the name for this blog came from…

In Sickness and Nevermind was Born

After a couple of years of wedded bliss, we had this idea for this blog. Its birth was actually as a podcast. But due to Shawna’s fluctuating ability to speak as the MG affects her vocal chords, the podcast slowly fizzled away. Over the years, we have tried to reinvigorate the podcast.

Finally, in April 2022, after we moved from Maine to Wisconsin, the decision was made to move forward and grow In Sickness and Nevermind (ISAN) but as a blog and a resource repository. As part of the move, Shawna decided to really scale back and take time to focus on improving her health. That meant NOT growing her graphic design business like she had originally considered doing. She found out that the slower life we now live in Wisconsin has actually been FANTASTIC for helping her health stabilize. Not able to sit and be idle, Shawna decided to spearhead the re-invigoration of ISAN.

And here we are. Now you know the cliffnotes version of how we got from A to Z.

You may notice some jumping around of tenses – using WE but then she/him and referring to one another by our names instead of I depending on who is writing. To stay consistent, we just figured this would be easier. Yea, we know, it’s not recommended for “good writing” and if Shawna’s editors from Myathenia Gravis News ever see this…they’ll probably cringe! haha