Sometimes, inspiration comes in the mail
Justin Chappell wasn’t so sure he wanted to tell his story.
The Guthrie High School linebacker has myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease that has attacked his eyes and affected his vision. Unless he takes eight pills a day, he sees double in crazy, wacky ways.
But when Guthrie coach Rafe Watkins let him know that yours truly wanted to talk with him about his disease, Chappell didn’t want to do it.
Then his mother, Sharla, reminded him of the power of his story.
“Maybe someone has your signs,” she said.
Maybe someone, then, could draw inspiration from him.
Chappell, after all, got a big boost a few years ago when ESPN The Magazine profiled Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox. The Tigers’ starter has myasthenia gravis, too, and when Chappell saw his story, it made a huge difference in his battle with the disease.
“I was still having question marks here and there,” Chappell said. “I questioned even playing football and baseball.”
Seeing that Cox was not only playing but also playing at the Division-I level reassured Chappell.
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