I came to paddling at a point in life when I knew something had to change. I was stuck — physically and emotionally. For years, I struggled with neurocardiogenic syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, conditions that made everyday life unpredictable. After a serious fall caused by a fainting episode, I herniated a disc in my back. I was afraid of the surgery I needed, so I put it off — for six years. During that time, I gained weight, lost energy, and slipped into depression.
Each week, I saw members of my local paddling group heading out onto the water. Something about their presence stuck with me. Eventually, I reached a breaking point — or maybe a turning point. I decided enough was enough. I signed up for a local paddle safety class taught by an ACA instructor who also served in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s AUXPAD Program. I chose that class specifically because I needed to understand how to be safe on the water given my health. I didn’t know then that it would change the entire course of my life.
From the first paddle stroke, I discovered something I hadn’t felt in years: freedom. Not just the thrill of being on the water — but the realization that I could move under my own power without passing out. It was the first step toward reclaiming control of my body, my confidence, and my life.
But I didn’t stop there. I wanted to do more than paddle — I wanted to serve. I joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the AUXPAD Program, and I became an ACA Instructor myself. What started as a way to heal became a calling to help others stay safe, find joy, and discover their own strength on the water.
Paddling didn’t just improve my health — it gave me a mission. Today, my life is dedicated to paddlesports education, safety, advocacy, and empowering others to find what I found: purpose, on the water and beyond.
Thank you to Kelly Rudolph for contributing “Chronic Illness Took My Freedom; Kayaking Gave It Back” to the ACA Story Project! Your story is a powerful reminder of how paddling can restore not just strength and confidence — but a renewed sense of purpose. Thank you for your leadership in paddle safety and for sharing your journey so that others might find their own way to the water.
About the Author:
Kelly Rudolph is the ACA Ohio State Director and a certified ACA Instructor. She joined the ACA in 2021 after discovering paddling as a life-changing path to recovery and empowerment. Today, she dedicates herself to paddlesports education, safety, and advocacy — helping others find freedom and confidence through time on the water.