Guest: Trent Brock
From leading a busy and fulfilling life to battling one cancer after another, Trent faced an unexpected and devastating prognosis: less than a five percent chance of survival and potentially only a year to live. Compounding this grim news were discussions about amputating his leg. However, thanks to his father’s advocacy, alternative options became available. Throughout his health journey, Trent encountered numerous challenges, including post-surgical complications, infections, and misdiagnoses. The uncertainty of his future filled him with fear, but before that fear could take hold, he needed time to absorb the shock of each new medical update that accompanied his consultations. His cancer battle unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely limited the support he could access; he was also thousands of miles away from his family. In New Zealand, where he was receiving treatment, methadone was prescribed for pain management. However, when he was abruptly discharged from the hospital, it left him without any prescribed medications or a plan to manage the withdrawal symptoms from methadone. Unaware that he was experiencing withdrawal, Trent struggled without support or guidance on how to cope. During this tumultuous period, he felt his mental well-being deteriorate, leading him to suicidal thoughts while trying to navigate the physical and emotional toll of his situation, which was marked by anger, frustration, and a profound sense of hopelessness. Yet, in the midst of this strife, he refused to give up on himself. He continued to fight for his life, constantly reminding himself of his goals and the strength within him to persevere. His key message to the listeners is that: invest in your life, make a decision, focus on your goal, remove the negative influences, work on yourself, be willing to help yourself, you need to make drastic changes to see drastic results.
Guest Bio: Trent, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, had a career in IT that took him across the U.S. and around the globe. In 2005, he moved to New Zealand, where in 2011, a chance opportunity led him to start a weekend craft market kettle corn business. Over the next fourteen years, his company, NZ Kettle Korn, became the second-largest popcorn manufacturer in New Zealand, distributing internationally across Australasia and the Middle East. However, while running his successful business, Trent faced a series of life-altering health challenges, including 3 aggressive cancers spanning a three-year journey. Despite the odds of survival, Trent returned to home to Arkansas, in the United States where he embraced significant lifestyle changes and was declared cancer-free in the fall of 2021. As of August 2024, he continues to remain cancer-free.
In early 2024, Trent sold his popcorn business and transitioned into a new chapter as an inspirational speaker, cancer coach, and patient advocate. He actively volunteers with his local non-profit Cancer Challenge, where he was honoured with the Hidden Hero Award as the top volunteer. Trent is also a best-selling author, with his work featured in “Breaking the Silence: Voices of Survivors Vol 1.” His second volume released in October 2024.
Passionate about: Cancer Challenge