Ariana Ariel Kristian Blockmon recalled how a middle school coach relentlessly targeted her and other children for not being athletic.
She was bullied for refusing to play basketball, forced to jump rope on stage, and compelled to run an 880-yard dash under threat of failure.
At the time, she was already enduring her mother’s fifth divorce, and the coach dismissed her pain as laziness.
Years later, Ariana was diagnosed with POTS and discovered that what she had been told was just a “stitch in her side” was actually early signs of celiac artery compression.
The trauma worsened when her father kneed and kicked her in the celiac plexus at age 19, leaving lasting damage.
She explained that the artery was being crushed, causing systemic mayhem in her body.
Further, she emphasized the importance of believing children when they say something hurts.
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In her Facebook post, Ariana expressed frustration over the repeated abuse and gaslighting she experienced.
She highlighted how the coach’s actions were not only cruel but medically dangerous.
Over and above that, she focused on connecting her childhood experiences to her later medical diagnoses, stressing that what was dismissed as laziness was in fact a serious health condition.
Her words carried urgency as she underscored the broader message: children’s complaints of pain should never be ignored, because hidden medical issues can have devastating consequences. She wrote:
BELIEVE KIDS when they say that something hurts, even if it seems unusual. You just never know.
After all, she concluded her post by drawing attention to her great aunt, suggesting that the same undetected disease process may have claimed her life at a similar age.
People responded to Ariana’s post by sharing their own perspectives and experiences.
One commenter shared their POV, highlighting their frustration, saying,
“I lacked rhythm and coordination. In sophomore year for modern dance I wrote a routine for myself and best friend. She was more athletic. She got an A and I got a C but I wrote the dance routine! I should have gotten some credit.”
Another shared a similar sentiment, saying,
“I am with you. I got the same abuse. Athletics is a skill like art but not everyone is expected to be a great artist.”
The impact of her early struggles still shapes her life today, as she works through lasting medical issues.
Recently, Ariana shared an update about her ongoing health struggles.
Ariana recently shared that she was being taken for an abdominal CT scan after doctors found her potassium levels were very low despite supplementation.
She said she was given Toradol, which helped her breathe more easily than she had in a while.
Ariana explained that the area around her celiac artery remains swollen and inflamed, causing ongoing pain, though she felt temporary relief.
Our prayers go to Ariana, wishing her strength, comfort, and a swift recovery.
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