Posted on 04/20/2016 7:37:52 PM PDT by Third Person
When Zion Shaver's high school wrestling career ended last month, he hugged his coach as the crowd rose to its feet. It's a moment that could very well be the final scene in a movie someday -- that's how miraculous Shaver's life has been to this point.
Shaver was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1997 -- without legs. He had caudal regression syndrome, a condition that affects the development of the lower half of the body. He was given up for adoption as a baby, moving from foster home to foster home, from school to school, and he doesn't like to say much more about his childhood than that.
What brings an enormous smile to his face, though, is what's been the steadying force in his life: wrestling. Shaver had begun wrestling as a 2-year-old and kept at it, even as he ping-ponged from one temporary living situation to another.
Fast-forward to what was a whirlwind senior season at Massillon Washington High School in northeast Ohio. As he put together a triumphant 33-15 final year at Massillon, his adoption paperwork finally went through with his mom, Kimberly Hawkins. Hawkins, a longtime foster care provider in Ohio, met Shaver about two years ago and felt compelled to give him a home. In February, the adoption became official, just as Shaver prepared for a postseason push in the sport he loves.
"Wrestling has changed my life to the point where when I come to an obstacle in my life," Shaver said, "I instantly figure out a way to get past it and move on."
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
Nice.
Thank you for posting this.
You’re welcome, pass it along.
Way ahead of you.
;-)
I don’t mean to sound ignorant, but I probably will anyway. The few times I see people in similar condition as this young man, I (privately) wonder, where is everything else? Is he sitting on his
testicles most of the time?
Does the bottom area of his back hurt all the time, because of the constant upright pressure on his spine. Does he have adult sized lungs? I’m guessing he cannot eat very much at one time. There are questions that are none of my business, but I wonder how these people survive. I am humbled that many of these folks can hold their head up, leave the house and go to their jobs or activities.
Interesting that the story ran on the same day ESPN fired another Christian, Curt Schilling, for expressing views that didn't fit so nicely into ESPN’s pc agenda.
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