Chris CrockettChance Veazey’s Story Should Inspire Us All To Appreciate What We Have
December 29th 2009 13:59
Chance Veazey had big dreams. We all do, right? What did you want to be when you were growing up? If you’re a younger reader of this blog, what do you want to be when you’re all done with school? As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a professional baseball player. Chance Veazey was in a damn good position to make that dream happen for him when he enrolled at the University of Georgia on a baseball scholarship as a standout second baseman. Unfortunately for Chance, he never got to lace up the cleats for anything but a series of practice games for Georgia. Playing baseball for a living just wasn’t in the cards for the young man.
Veazey hit a home run on his last at-bat at the University of Georgia. Granted it was a practice game, but as he said, “that’s the way you want to go out.” You see, Veazey was studying for a psych test with some friends and when they were finished, he went to jump on his scooter to drive back to his dorm around 10:30pm. He never got back. His scooter crashed into a car as he (Veazey) had the right of way and he severed his spine when he hit the concrete. His legs were paralyzed. Baseball dreams over. Life forever changed. A complete shame.
We’re approaching a new year here in a couple of days as 2010 is on our doorstep. It got me thinking. I read a lot of headlines and stories at night to see if anything catches my eye and then I stumble on a story like this about Chance Veazey and I think, ‘do I get the most out of every day that I’m alive and healthy?’ Ask yourselves the same question. Do you? Life can change in a heartbeat. Some of us have found that out the hard way. Veazey has been so strong while rehabbing throughout this whole ordeal but sometimes it gets so hard to cope with it all, that he breaks down and cries. I’d say that’s pretty understandable, wouldn’t you?
As I got to the end of reading this story on Veazey, I read that despite his paralysis, he still will be able to have kids one day if he so chooses. His father Todd said “I can hardly wait,” when referring to Chance potentially having children. On a personal note, my wife and I just announced to the family over the Christmas holiday that we are expecting our first child together in late July or early August of 2010. We are very excited. I was just told yesterday by my wife, that our child is now the size of a large raspberry. Awesome. Last week he or she was just the size of a blueberry. We have progress! All I can say is that I sincerely hope that Chance Veazey, after all he’s been through, has the chance to experience that feeling as well someday. It’s honestly a feeling that can not be beaten. He deserves it.
(To read the great article on Chance Veazey in USA Today.. click HERE )
Chuck
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