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I'm Jana "The Warrior" Waring (Helms) and I won 1st place on Nickelodon GUTS all stars in 1993. 5 years later, I became paralyzed while working at Sea World. Ask me anything! (self.IAmA)

submitted by JanaHelms

Hi, I'm Jana. In 1993 I was featured on the first season of Nickelodeon GUTS as "The Warrior." Because I had a perfect score during my show, I was asked back to compete in what would be the only GUTS All Stars show. With much luck and determination, I won that show too. Then five years later, while performing as a gymnast at Sea World Orlando doing a ski and gymnastics show, I broke my neck (C5-6 subllexation) and became paralyzed from the chest down. No longer having an able body to fuel my career as a stuntwoman, I went back to college to get a Interpersonal Communications degree at UCF, followed by a Masters in Liberal Studies at Rollins College.

Today, I live in downtown Los Angeles with my husband, Cory, our manx cat and St. Bernard. Together, Cory and I are working on a screenplay and sitcom, and in between that I freelance and blog about my life as a disabled 30-something woman on (waringis.com).

PROOF: My piece of the Agro Crag from Nickelodeon GUTS

PROOF: My husband and me

UPDATE: Wow! Thanks everyone. I'm shocked at how many questions I received. I'm signing off for now, but looking forward to answering more questions tomorrow.

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[–]JustTrying2BAwesome 4 points5 points  (1 child)

You seem like a pretty impressively determined person. Where do you find the strength and motivation to get better when life kicks you down?

[–]JanaHelms[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Living with a disability certainly has its challenges but I'm surrounded by so much love. I have an amazing husband, amazing pets, loving friends and supportive family. Emotionally I've always been kind of tough. And if I had to choose between having a physical or emotional disability, I'd pick physical all day long.

I also still can breathe and think for myself. I'm reminded of this good fortune every time I see someone else who can't.

[–]lliliillililiillliil 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Is this you? http://youtu.be/iD0vMwp3kNw

[–]JanaHelms[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yep, that's the teen version of me!

[–]team_swift 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Thank you for the AMA. Just the description alone hit so many emotions.

Have you had any contact with Nickelodeon since? Like, do they keep up with past game show winners and such?

[–]JanaHelms[S] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Sadly, no. I posted an article about GUTS yesterday on a site I freelance for and tweeted out to Mike O'Malley (the GUTS host.) He got back to me within just a couple hours, which was so cool of him. He even followed me, favorited and retweeted my Tweet, then created his own GUTS nostalgia Tweet!

[–]FredWampy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! That's cool.

[–]plurntup 4 points5 points  (6 children)

Thoughts on all of the recent controversy surrounding Sea World?

[–]JanaHelms[S] 5 points6 points  (5 children)

Blackfish was hard for me to watch because I personally knew Dawn. She would have never, ever supported a film like that and the fact that they used her death to exploit their message was disturbing to me. I'm all for people having a point of view and them putting their hard work, blood, sweat and tears to convey a message. I'm not for omitting facts and using editing to convey an opinion. None of the Sea World trainers I personally knew were interviewed, and some of them even told me that the messaging was just flat out wrong. The trainers know a lot about the animals and spend years learning their past behaviors before even having a chance to be hands on. I find it hard to believe the information given in those Blackfish interviews. And I hate that the documentary caused so much conflict and emotion from people without having a reasonable solution. The animals cannot just be set free into the wild again. That, I feel, would certainly kill them.

As someone born and raised in Orlando, Florida I grew up going to Sea World, and truly feel that theme park is where my love for the ocean and its animals began. I do feel weird about holding animals in captivity, and yet I go back and forth about the educational opportunity it provides. I don't know that I'd care as much for the ocean if I didn't know so much about it. And I find it odd that the biological and historical information of orcas used to infuriate people in the Blackfish documentary came from the research made available by captivity.

With all that being said, I've gone up against the Sea World machine before and it's brutal. I found out soon after my injury that the equipment used the day of my injury disappeared the very next day. A year later, an attorney gave me my "accident report" of my injury day and I was shocked (and extremely saddened) to see that my manager had suggested I had been doing a stunt on stage that I shouldn't have been doing. That was a complete lie, and then completely heart-breaking to me. This guy (the manager who wrote that report) had driven 8-hours from Orlando to Atlanta to see me in a special rehab center, and even had taken my entire family out to dinner. If only I would have known back then what I knew now.

As you can see, this topic causes a lot of internal conflict for me. And my husband and I are completely opposite sides of the argument. In the end, I just go back to what I think Dawn would have wanted from her tragedy, and a documentary that damages the whales, Sea World and their images is just not it. I think starting an open conversation about this dilemma is the best thing that can come from any of this.

[–]Hindsight3020 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Blackfish did start an open conversation.

[–]glorifiedplumber83 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I work at the Baltimore National Aquarium -- and we have adopted a one of a kind policy with our dolphins.

We do not do shows anymore. we consider it damaging to their mental well being.

We do keep the exhibit open -- because you are totally correct. Captive animals can not be released into the wild and expected to survive.

However, forcing animals to do shows, over and over and over again with loud music and a routine that's unending is miserable. I'd hate to live my life like that.

Our alternative?

We invite the dolphins to learn if they want to. If they WANT to do a trick or whatever, they can. If they want to participate in learning new things, they can. Or, they can just swim around and do whatever it is that they want to do.

We have seen amazing improvement in health, demeanor, and behavior.

Right now, we are the only ones in the US to adopt this type of program, and I think we're the only ones in the world.

[–]chippytoes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a great New Yorker article profiling the architect who has been hired by the National Aquarium to rethink their dolphin exhibits. It gives interesting background to the design and thought behind the National Aquarium program.

[–]Relictorum 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I, too, worked at Sea World at one time, in San Diego. I have a fond memory of watching a trainer play "peek a boo" with one of the whales early before the park opened. Smart, lovely animals. They are bigger than they look from the stands.

[–]glorifiedplumber83 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, I can't believe that SeaWorld treated you like that. It doesn't speak well for the corporation.

What was it exactly that you injured yourself on? What equipment was removed?

Thank goodness you still got workmans comp though.

[–]IBezerkRussian 3 points4 points  (1 child)

How much has your life changed? Also did Sea World pay for your hospital bills?

[–]JanaHelms[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My life changed significantly. Not being able to use three-quarters of your body really puts a damper on being productive. And no, Sea World did not pay for the bills because it was a contracted show. However, the contracted company's workman's comp insurance did. I'm eternally grateful to have an arms to such resources.

[–]jokekiller94 3 points4 points  (1 child)

As the envy of a lot of 90s kids what was it like being on top of the Argo crag?

[–]JanaHelms[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Ha! The amount of time spent on top of the Crag is so small compared to the amount of time it takes to get there! I think I was just so excited to have come in first, I didn't really think of anything else... except maybe removing all the glitter from my goggles so I could see.

[–]Carlyndra 3 points4 points  (4 children)

What are the names of your Manx and St. Bernard? Do you have pictures?

[–]JanaHelms[S] 3 points4 points  (3 children)

Meet Zola and Riley

[–]Carlyndra 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Aww!

Do they get along? Do they do anything to treat you differently than they treat other people, like your husband? (Ex. Will sit anywhere and everywhere but stay away from your wheelchair, show signs of favoritism, etc.)

(P.S. I'm bad at asking good questions, I apologize)

[–]JanaHelms[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They do get along! I had Zola first; Riley came with my husband. For the first week they lived together, Zola would sit around wall corners waiting for Riley so she could punch her in the face with her paws. Riley never reacted or fought back so she eventually became bored and that was that. They are so funny together, and are always within reach of either of us. Each day, we're getting closer to Zola and Riley spooning together. That's our dream.

In regards to my wheelchair (and yes these are great questions!), Zola knows no different. She was a rescue, with tiny little ribs showing when I got her. Until she was big enough to jump up into my lap, she used to cruise around on my feet. She loves snuggling and is not like any other cat I've ever seen. Riley adapted to my wheelchair easily. She puts her head in my lap when she wants attention, and loves being protective. She once ran up to another wheelchair user at the park because I had snuck away (she hates when we separate, and since she's so big she wins.) When she realized it wasn't me, she dragged my husband back home to find me.

[–]JanaHelms[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Zola with me

[–]Penroze 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Have you heard about some very recent advancements in spinal cord injury treatments? A man with a spinal cord injury from the chest down was able to move his legs again after a doctor transplanted nerve fibers from his leg, and cells from his naval cavity.

http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/10/24/2014/nerve-transplant-allows-paralyzed-man-to-move-legs-again.html

[–]JanaHelms[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes! I did see that story and I think it's incredible. I'm hopeful that some kind of cure to improve the quality of my life will happen in the next decade or two. With that being said, I don't spend too much time looking at ALL the research out there. I made a conscious decision years ago to live in the present day because I didn't want to lose years of my life sitting around waiting "for a cure." There's just too much living to do.

[–]frozen_barbie_head 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Being on the show, what was one thing that you still continue to enjoy today as an adult?

[–]JanaHelms[S] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Having a piece of the Agro Crag. That thing still lights up like a beacon (as long as it's plugged in.)

[–]FredWampy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The picture surprises me with how transparent it is. I assume that the one on the show is a prop and the winners on the show got an off-brand version.

[–]AspenFrenchFry 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Are you a gamer ? Do you smoke weed ? legally/medically....

[–]JanaHelms[S] 6 points7 points  (2 children)

If putting together jigsaw puzzles is considered being a gamer, then hell yes I am. And sadly, the ganja makes me very sleepy so I don't partake. But there are many wheelchair users that do use it for spasms and such.

[–]Relictorum 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am very fond of jigsaw puzzles. Yes, it counts as a classic game.

[–]glorifiedplumber83 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are two types.

One makes you sleepy, the other makes you more uppidy.

Indica vs Sativa.

[–]SgtPeterson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It sounds like you've gone through the grieving process after your injury and come out the other side to acceptance. But I'm curious, has your injury changed how you look at the world as a whole? Are you more optimistic or pessmistic, are you more or less likely to see the good in things?

[–]Too_MainStream1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What was it like being on guts, did you like practice the courses before playing in them?

[–]Frajer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like it's fair to say you have guts would you agree?

[–]MooreToLove 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A former employee of mine said he spent an absurd amount of time looking for am actual piece of the aggro crag online and only ever found it once and it was extremely expensive. Are you ever curious how much that thing is worth?

[–]zachismyname89 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Not necessarily a question to start, but I remember growing up my dad would have us play GUTS in the living room using the couch as the aggro crag. Awesome times the 90s they were, I always wanted to go on Wild and Crazy Kids. If you could compete on any other game show as a teen again from that era, what would it be?

[–]DETRITUS_TROLL -5 points-4 points  (1 child)

I see no actual proof.

I see a neon light.

[–]JanaHelms[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OK, will post a picture of myself, too.

[–]IBezerkRussian -5 points-4 points  (1 child)

Yeaaaaa I don't believe this is the real "The warrior". Pulling up a image from Google doesn't really show that much proof. Nice try OP

[–]JanaHelms[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha...here's some proof from earlier today: https://twitter.com/TheMikeOMalley/status/527345707598901250