Tom Krause - Touching Hearts, Teaching Greatness: Stories from a Coach That Touch Your Heart and Inspire Your Soul

D EDICATED TO ALL MY STUDENTS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

C ONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

M ARKS C HOICE

W HAT S W RONG? I remember asking my teammate that question as he sat in front of his locker more than twenty years ago. It was our senior year in high school. We had just finished polishing off another opponent, but there he sat: head in hands, alone, in pain. He was tough, seventeen years old and a great athlete. His name was Mark Overstreet.

The rest of our teammates had showered and left for home, but Mark was still fully dressed in his football uniform. When he raised his head to speak, I saw tears in his eyes. Now I knew something was really wrong. This was a young man who was more likely to make his opponents cry on the football field. I dont know, he said softly. Its as if all the injuries Ive ever had are coming back. My whole body hurts. My legs feel like they weigh a hundred pounds each.

A week or so earlier, an outbreak of swine flu had swept through our community. One by one, everyone had lined up to take the vaccine to prevent the spread of the illness. All the students had the shot and thought nothing of it. When Mark received the vaccine, however , his body developed a very rare allergic reactionso rare that his sudden illness was not correctly diagnosed until ten years later.

The morning after our conversation in the locker room, Mark woke to find his right foot asleep. No matter how much he tried to rub the foot to alleviate the pins-and-needles feeling, the circulation never returned. Concerned, Marks mother took him to the doctor. Marks life was about to change forever.

Baffled by what he saw in his examination, the doctor was somber. I dont know whats wrong with you, Mark, but you are going to lose that foot.

No! his mother exclaimed, in shock.

Stunned, Mark said, What are you talking about? Whats wrong with me? The doctor couldnt answer that question. He admitted Mark to the hospital for further tests.

While he was in the hospital, Marks left foot fell asleep and, just like the right one, never woke up. Not only were both feet losing circulation, but things were getting worse. After many failed tests the doctor entered his room to tell him the news. Mark, whatever it is, its killing you. Its spreading to your heart. We have only one hope. To try to stop the spread, we want to amputate both legs just below the knee. If that doesnt work, you have two weeks.

Two weeks? Two weeks for a young man who had never been sick a day in his life? Whats wrong with me? Mark asked again.

We dont know, the doctor said. Mark had to prepare for the operation without knowing his chances.

When the amputation was over, Mark woke to find the doctor by his bed. Ive got some good news and some bad news, the doctor said. The good news is, you are going to live. Whatever it was, its gone. The operation was successful. The bad news is, you are probably going to be in a wheelchair your whole life, and in and out of the hospital.

At this moment Mark made his decision, a choice that would shape his whole future. No, he said. Im not staying in the hospital and Im not staying in a wheelchair. Im going to walk and Im going to live my life! This is just the beginning, not the end.

It took a year, but after learning to use his artificial legs, Mark walked out of the hospital for the last time. Later, he decided that if he couldnt play football or baseball again, he would become a coach and teach others to play.

While in college, Mark met Sharon and fell in love. Sharon didnt mind Marks prosthetic legs. She loved him for who he wasnot who he wasnt. After graduation they married, and Mark began teaching handicapped students and coaching high school football. He and Sharon had four beautiful children. Mark is a high school principal in southwest Missouriand my boss. Every morning Mark gets up, puts on his legs, and goes to school to greet students and teachers alike. If he ever has a bad day, you would never know.

Mark had a choice. He could be in that wheelchair, in and out of the hospital, feeling sorry about the bad break he suffered in high school. Some people choose to let bad breaks ruin their lives. But not Mark. He took a different path. He chose to live his life. He is an inspiration.

C HOICES

Some people sit, some people try.

Some people laugh, some people cry.

Some people will, some people wont.

Some people do, some people dont.

Some people believe and develop a plan.

Some people doubtnever think that they can.

Some people face hurdles and give them their best.

Some people back down when faced with a test.

Some people complain of their miserable lot.

Some people are thankful for all that theyve got.

And when its all overwhen it comes to the end

some people lose out and some people win.

We all have a choice. We all have a say.

We are spectators of life, or we get in and play.

Whichever we choosehow we handle lifes game

The choices are ours. No one else is to blame.

T INAS T EN P OINTS

S HE WAS SEVENTEEN years old and always wore a bright smile. This may not seem unusualbut Tina Larson was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that left her muscles stiff and unmanageable. Because she had trouble speaking, this bright smile was the true reflection of her personality.

Tina was a great kid. She used a walker most of the time to navigate through the crowded hallways at school. A lot of people didnt speak to her. Why? Who knows. Maybe because she looked different, and the other students didnt know how to approach her. Tina usually broke the ice with people she met in the halls, especially the boys, with a big Hi!