Darcy Marchant, Charger Staff
Many people, especially younger adults, take advantage of their health, strength,
and endurance every day of their lives. There is one very special athelete in
CHS, however, who knows what it means to struggle through life. Justin Proctor,
a sophomore, lives in a constant battle with cystic fibrosis, and always displays
great determination in everything he does.
Cystic fibrosis is a terminal disease which affects one’s respiratory
and digestive systems. Most people would have the urge to give up in life and
feel sorry for themselves if they were found to have a disease such as this,
but Justin’s determination keeps increasing as he grows older.
Doctors told him at first that he might live until the age of eighteen and
would not be able to be very active.
Justin’s determination to have fun and make the most of his life is actually
lengthening his life expectancy. He and the doctors have discovered that playing
sports significantly helps to maintain his health and prolong his life. While
many believed sports like football, wresting, tennis, and cross-country would
be too hard on his lungs, his activeness and success is helping to fight his
disease in a way nobody could predict.
Proctor’s determination surpasses that of most of the athletes in our
school. Including his Strength and Conditioning class, he spends about six hours
of every day working out or practicing for a sport.
Not only does Justin have the support of his teammates, friends, parents, teachers,
and coaches, he also has the support of several newspapers, schools, banks,
seventeen national sponsors (such as Kroger) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The Tennessean recently wrote a huge article about him and his determination,
and the Herald-Citizen featured him in an article which is nominated for Sports
Article of the Year.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), which works to raise awareness and money
to help find a cure for the disease, is having an annual walk for Justin, which
will be hosted by TTU. This event, which will be covered by newspapers, radio
stations, and television stations, will take place April 28th at Cane Creek
Park and is expected to bring between $27,000 and $45,000 each year. The CFF
will also establish an annual tennis tournament in Justin’s name.
The only off-season this amazing athelete has is when he is being hospitalized,
which has only happened three or four times in his life.
When asked about the best and worst aspects of his disease, he said that the
only good thing about cystic fibrosis is that he can never gain too much weight.
He actually has to eat as much as possible just to maintain the weight he already
has. His least favorite thing about C.F. is that he is always coughing, and
he has to take about forty pills a day.
Despite hardships Justin Proctor has to face every day, he says, “I try
to do as much as I can in the short time that I have. I’m trying to get
all out of life that I can.”
This is something all people need to believe, regardless of their health or age. Justin is looking forward to attending Vanderbilt University or Austin Peay, probably to become a computer technician or doctor.
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