In January 2012 Julie Luck, former journalist with Fox 8 WGHP News, introduced Dustin Edmonon (http://myfox8.com/2012/01/12/insprired-living-special-olympian/) to the world. In brief, the story highlighted Dustin’s work ethic and the passion he has as a Special Olympics athlete. Just prior to the story, Dustin had won two Special Olympic medals; silver in a relay and bronze in the pentathlon (youngest on his team). Dustin suffers from cerebral palsy and partial paralysis on the right side of his body; a result of multiple mini-strokes he suffered at an early age. According to this mother, Dustin barely made it through the first days of his life. Since then he has faced many challenges but he always does it with a smile on his face and with determined grit.
Dustin is now an 8th grader at Southern Middle School in Greensboro, NC and is still doing amazing things. In September 2013, Dustin was recognized and honored by Win-Win Resolutions by winning the prestigious Young Peacemaker award. The Young Peacemaker award is designed to recognize and celebrate 8th grade students (in Guilford County North Carolina) whose words and actions reflect a consistent effort to create peaceful solutions and promote understanding and acceptance of differences between individuals, groups, and/or cultures. When the Institute to Promote Athlete Health & Wellness (IPAHW) Director, Dr. David Wyrick, heard Dustin’s story he knew right away that IPAHW needed to meet Dustin and learn more about his life. It was obvious to Dr. Wyrick that it would likely be a stark reminder to all athletes of why we originally started playing sports. Following an uplifting interview (filled with laughter and tears) with Dustin, his mother, former basketball coach and current principal, this is what we learned.
Barriers? Challenges? No worries!
Every challenge Dustin has been presented, he has face it head-on, full tilt. No hesitation. No questions asked. In fact, his mother told us that when filming the Fox 8 story there was no expectation for Dustin to run an entire lap around the track (let alone at full speed), but he kept running and ran until someone literally told him to stop.
As an infant, his parents thought Dustin would be left handed. As it turns out, Dustin’s left hand dominance was one of the early indicators of the mini-strokes he had suffered. While the strokes have limited the right side of his body, including his right hand and leg, they certainly haven’t stopped Dustin. Even before his first birthday Dustin constantly had a ball in his hand and only a few years later he was playing soccer and t-ball. While learning about all of Dustin’s physical challenges during our interview, he emphatically interjected “…and look at me now!!” As his mother so accurately described, Dustin is always in the mix! Dustin always being in the mix quickly became the theme of the interview as we learned about his passion for all different types of sports. Dustin recalls the first time he was selected to pitch for his baseball team; “I got 2 strikeouts and a walk. I even struck out my best friend. He was like ‘oh man!’ (picture a thin redheaded boy with a massive smile on his face). During his 7th grade year, Dustin tried out for his middle school baseball team. Each day after tryouts he was positive about the day’s events, his mom tells us. The tryouts were difficult, but Dustin pushed through the pain. Unfortunately by the end of tryouts he learned he had not made the team. Dustin was crushed and had trouble sleeping that night. However, the very next day Dustin was informed that the coaches were willing to create an “alternative” spot for him on the team. Dustin talked at length with his parents about the offer and then spent the evening alone in his room trying to decide whether or not to accept the offer. He dreamed of being on the middle school baseball team, but couldn’t get past the feeling that the offer felt a little charity-like. What he told us next put goose bumps on our arms. He told his parents that he was going to decline the offer of an alternate spot and he was going to work harder over the next year and make the team on his own! Dustin’s motto is, if something is difficult “go again!”
He is an inspiration to others
“Inspiration” – noun: the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative. Whereas Dustin’s tryout with the baseball team didn’t end the way he hoped, he moved on and tried out for the basketball team. We then turned our attention in the interview to his former (spoiler alert) Coach. Coach Moore, with a firm look on his face says “Dustin made the team legitimately. There were about 80 kids who tried out for the team and plenty of them could not keep up with Dustin’s work ethic and they ultimately didn’t make the squad.” Dustin just doesn’t know the word quit, it’s not in his vocabulary. His teammates gravitate to his work ethic and his drive, Coach Moore tells us. We learn that Dustin forces people to appreciate what they have; not through words but by showing them through his actions. When Dustin hears the words – you can’t do that – his response is “WATCH ME!”
On top of working hard on and off the court at school, Dustin is a spokesperson for the Special Olympics. He absolutely loves the Special Olympics his mother tells us. Recently Dustin, through Project Unify, attended a youth activation summit in Raleigh and was able to give a speech in front of over 500 people, “oh and go bowling!!” Dustin interjects. We begin to learn more about how Dustin’s positive attitude and love for sports brings people together. It says a lot about a person when so many people want them to succeed; and that’s just it, so many people want Dustin to succeed.
It’s always 100%
When it comes down to it, Dustin uplifts those around him, serves others, keeps a positive attitude, and never gives up. Before his 7th grade year, due to Guilford County policy, Dustin wasn’t able to play middle school sports. So, what’s the next closest thing? Managing one of those teams. Well, what we learned is that Dustin managed as many teams as he was permitted. He approached managing like everything else; 100% full speed ahead! Even when he didn’t need to be there Dustin was making sure that everything was perfect for the basketball team so that they could perform their best, says Coach Moore. It paid off. During his 6th grade year, the Southern Middle basketball team won the conference title. Coach Moore sincerely believes Dustin was an essential piece to their success.
We asked Dustin why he doesn’t give-in when things get difficult and he responds with a wide grin, “because I love it.” Meeting Dustin has reminded us of who we used to be and why we play(ed) the game. We play(ed) because we love the competition, the friendships, the challenges, and the hard work it takes to be on a team. So, Dustin is just one kid in North Carolina, but he’s doing so much with his life and making the best of the situation he has been dealt. He is inspiring so many people and most of us are not faced with the physical limitations that Dustin is. He inspires us to play hard and with a smile on our face. He inspires us to be good teammates. He inspires us to earn opportunities in life. He inspires us to be thankful for the physical gifts we have. Every once in a while we need to sit back and think about Dustin, and all the “Dustins” out there who are giving all they have simply for the love of the game.