Barbadian Johnathan Austin is one special young man. Now 19 years old, he has spent a large part of his young life battling a long term chronic condition called Gastroparesis, in which the stomach cannot empty in the normal way. He once lived with a gastric pacemaker in his stomach and has travelled with his family over seven years to the United States for constant treatment and solutions. For one year, Johno was fed through a tube in his stomach for 18 hours a day to maintain weight, watching his fellow peers eating and drinking with him unable to participate. One can only imagine the torture. Thankfully, Johno, a keen skateboarder with his own on- line store called Johno’s Skate Shop now has things under control and he tells us his story.
When did you or your parents discover you had a medical problem and what happened then?
It all started in February 2014, my dad was dropping me off to school and I did not feel well. I threw up in the car park so we went to the Dr and the journey started from there. Over several weeks I missed school, each time I ate, I would throw up. I had numerous tests and Drs visits until my Dad was recommended to Dr Jhagroo and she recommended that we should go away to Miami Children’s Hospital to help find out the problem. We went away that year 4 times to the hospital and in October I was admitted again weighing only 52 pounds, they placed a J tube into my nose directly to my intestine to feed me. That trip lasted a month and I was transferred to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando. After a 24 hour motility study they realized that there was no activity in the antrum of the stomach. I was able to return home with a tube in my stomach that would feed me a very expensive Amino acid based milk that was pumped in my intestines for 18 hours per day, 6oz per an hour so I would be able to maintain my weight.
In September 2015, I qualified for a gastric pacemaker and that was fitted in my stomach and allowed me to eat my first plate of food for over a year. All I can tell you is Chicken Pasta alfredo and pepperoni pizza was eaten a lot while they ensured it worked. The pacemaker did not work consistently and we had several trips over a year to ensure it worked. It was a long process but we were blessed to be able to access the treatment.
After two years the device settled my issues and I was relatively stable, so I only visited the US once a year to get a check-up at The UF SHANDS HOSPITAL in Gainesville Florida. We are thankful to so many Drs and nurses in Barbados and the US. My present Dr the specialist with the pacemaker / stimulator is Dr Islam and he is a Sir Garfield Sobers fan and a fan of the back in the day West Indies team.
Physically and mentally this must have been a huge challenge. Tell us how you dealt with this mentally and what led you to skateboarding?
Wow, where do I begin, I struggled to cope with the constant prodding , hospitals stays, procedures, medical tests, IV sticks and drips and bad tasting medicine. In Miami, they had dog therapy where they allow dogs to visit children to cheer them up. I was never really a dog lover before but started to look forward to the visits and it really lifted my spirits. While in hospital I was able to use the computer and I came across a video of someone skateboarding. I was in awe of all the stunts and manoeuvres done in video. From there the only thing on my mind was skateboarding. So, in 2014 after my first Hospital stay diagnosing my illness, when we were discharged, I told my dad I really, really wanted a skateboard. I guess he saw the excitement in my eyes and he went straight to Walmart in Miami and bought a skateboard. I would never forget it had images of Waffles on it. We spent two more weeks in Miami awaiting tests and medication and each day I was outside trying out my new skateboard. I learnt skateboarding through watching Youtube and trying it for myself. For the year I could only feed off the tube and any chance I got while not feeding off of the liquid, I would skateboard. I am not sure if you would understand, my stomach was always empty even though milk was going into my intestine, I was hungry 24/7. It was frustrating but I used my passion for skateboarding to feed me.
Tell us about the shop and how it operates.
Johno’s Skate Shop was conceived while I was in the US in 2020 in the height of the pandemic. I started to get shocking pains by the site of the stimulator and the Dr in Gainesville wanted to check out the problem. My dad and I went to the US and the Dr explained that the battery on the pacemaker needed changing as it was below 10%. By this time, I wanted to see if my stomach was working and asked the Dr if he could turn it off and discussed the possibility of taking out the stimulator. The Dr explained that the condition will not completely go away but the need of the pacemaker may not be required. He agreed to turn it off and wait a couple weeks to see if I coped with it off. If I did not throw up or feel pain, he would take out the device instead of replacing it.
I was over the moon and just believed that all will be well, my dad, however, was more concerned than me. We had two weeks to wait to see if all was well. During this time, I was discussing the future with my Dad and said if I am doing management and marketing, I think it would be a good idea to set up my own business. With no Skateshops in Barbados and with a freshly built skatepark, I said why don’t I open a skate shop. My dad thought it was a good idea and told me to write a business plan.
My business plan made sense to him and the journey started with the brainstorming on the name of the shop, the development of the brand and finding wholesale suppliers, registering the business, building the website. My dad is a minority shareholder or in real sense my business mentor.
The skate shop was opened on the 14th September 2021. I sold out the majority of skateboards and protective equipment in 3-4 weeks. I have since added roller skates, roller blades, new skateboards and other supplies. While I do deliveries island wide, I also have a display at my home in St James that I am able to invite customers to visit by appointment.
I advertise on social media and having really great branding has assisted my success. Neil Barnard from 809 Design developed my logo after I shared that I wanted it to reflect my love for bright colours, yellow and pink included. All in all, I value my customers and feel that providing excellent customer service is essential as well as delivering a good product. I spend hours researching brands and sourcing supplies to ensure that all of my customers are satisfied.
What about Johno Cares 2? How has that evolved?
While in Hospital in 2014, I asked my dad “why am I sick?” he did not have an answer, I then asked him “Maybe it is to make me stronger”. Then I asked my dad “stronger to do what?” He still did not have an answer. I then told him “maybe it is to make me stronger so I can help other children” then he said, we will find a way to help those in need in the future, concentrate on getting better first. A video was done of my illness and journey and circulated and over $10,000 was raised. I also worked with Mrs George and the Wills Helping hands where each year a wine and cheese event was done and raised funds for children in need of assistance.
It was crucial for me to include a giveback element through Johno’s Skateshop. In discussions and brainstorming with my family we came up with Johno Cares 2. It really means Johno Cares Too. Our honourable Prime Minister has a slogan Mia Cares and so the birth of Johno Cares 2. This is an initiative where 5% of sales is dedicated to giving back to children in need of medical assistance as well as to assist in the development of skateboarding. In July 2022 we launched Johno Cares 2 with a donation to 14 year old Sapphire who has Scoliosis and this assisted her with getting Physical therapy as she was fitted with a back brace. Raphael who has stage 2 Liver disease and needs operations and visits overseas to manage his illness. In addition we announced our first Johno’s Skate Shop/ Johno Cares 2 Ambassador, where Tarryn Alleyne was identified as an up and coming skateboarder and I sponsored him with skateboard product and possible opportunities for development.
What does the future hold for Johnathan Austin and are you into any other sports?
I am now finished BCC and have my Associate Degree. I am thinking of pursuing a Degree at UWI but leaning towards further developing my business in terms of product and expand in the Caribbean. If I choose not to attend UWI, I wish to develop further by doing a program more hands on in Entrepreneurship, self-development and I am interested in learning how to invest in stocks, cryptocurrency, etc.
I am really focussed on my business so Skateboarding has taken the back seat for the moment but it remains my passion. Roller skating has been a recent interest but growing in popularity. I see myself opening a rollerskating rink with multi-purpose facilities for children entertainment. Whatever I decide to do in the future, I know that I will always do my best, and live by what kept me going over the years. Be strong, never give up and always help others.