Fitness Pro Survives Accident After Having a Seizure Behind the Wheel

Jo Wyman is a force to be reckoned with. As a personal fitness instructor and athlete extraordinaire, she’s been obsessed with staying fit for years, despite suffering from seizures her entire life. She’s currently competing to be on the cover of Ms. Health and Fitness magazine. For her, winning is about more than just publicity; she recently survived her second car accident after having a seizure behind the wheel, and she plans to use her winnings to buy a new car.

Breaking Boundaries

Wyman has had more than her fair share of medical burdens throughout her life. She was born with one kidney, which is currently operating at a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of just 39. Healthy individuals usually have a GFR of 60 or above, at least until the age of about 70.

She had her first seizure in 2003 when she was ranked the #1 featherweight boxing champion in the country, forcing her to retire at an early age. She had brain surgery in 2005, but continues to suffer from an ongoing seizure disorder. She has been on medications ever since she can remember.

Despite her health concerns, Wyman has made a name for herself as a fitness machine. Certified by Aerobics & Fitness Association of America and California Academy of Personal Training, she’s the owner of JoJo’s Body Shop and Fitness Studio, where she helps people realize their health and fitness goals.

As the former featherweight boxing champion, Wyman is set to be honored by the Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame on August 14th in Las Vegas, NV.

She’s also known as the Calabasas Dog Trainer; she runs a training academy for pups and rescues of all ages.

From scuba diving to obstacle courses, she’s done it all. That makes her a perfect candidate for Ms. Health and Fitness 2021. The magazine will feature one tough athlete on the cover of its next issue. Voting opens on June 14th and Wyman is our clear favorite for the win.

When people tell her that she makes getting fit look easy, she says she’s been working out continuously for 35 years! That’s quite an accomplishment. When asked why she loves to keep active, she said, “I feel great, and it helps keep my weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol down! And [I love] the feeling I get when I see other people that I train loving it and asking for more.”

Seizing Behind the Wheel

Living with a seizure disorder isn’t easy. Despite everything Wyman has achieved, she still loses control of her body from time to time. Nothing can be scarier than having a seizure while driving. Eleven years after surgery, she totaled her first car in 2016 while seizing behind the wheel.

She suffered her second car accident just two weeks ago, which left her truck totaled, even though she was receiving treatment at the time.

She wants to win the title of Ms. Health and Fitness 2021, which comes with $20,000, to buy a new car and pay off her medical debt.

Many people who suffer from seizure disorders run the risk of having an accident behind the wheel, which means they can hurt themselves and others. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, these individuals should only return to driving once their seizures are under control to reduce the chance of accidents. However, it all depends on:

• The cause of their seizures
• The type of seizure they typically have
• The laws of the state in which they are licensed
• How long they have been free of seizures that affect their ability to drive

The DOT also says that people with seizure disorders should take long-term medication and see their doctor before getting behind the wheel. Some states don’t allow individuals with these disorders to drive until they haven’t had an episode for a specific period of time.

Wyman was under medical supervision and taking medication when her accident occurred. It’s not clear what, if anything, could have been done to prevent the incident, but Wyman will need some time before she can feel safe behind the wheel again.

She has our full support going into the Ms. Health and Fitness 2021 competition. Cast your vote after June 14th to select the winner.