The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Isaiah Austin and Marfan Syndrome

Recently, Isaiah Austin announced that he was cleared by doctors to pursue his professional basketball career via Instagram. You might be wondering, who is Isaiah Austin, or what makes his situation so unique?

Let’s backtrack a bit first. What makes his story so special is less about his basketball prowess and more about his determination to overcome and be an inspiration to others. Isaiah Austin was a promising young basketball star in the collegiate level and had declared for the NBA draft after his sophomore year at Baylor University. With his athleticism and length, he was a basketball prodigy at a very young age. Unfortunately, a few days before the NBA draft, he was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disorder that prevents him from playing competitive basketball. Symptoms of Marfan Syndrome often include long limbs, curved spine, long and thin body frame, heart and eye problems. Just when he was so close to accomplishing his dream of playing in the NBA, that same dream was taken away. Despite the setback, Isaiah didn’t quit; instead, he made it his mission to dream again and to share his story to as many as he could to motivate others to overcome any and every obstacle. Although he would not be selected by any NBA team that night in 2014, the NBA did a special ceremony to recognize him. You can also hear his reactions afterward here:

After 2 years of hard work and many doctor’s appointments, Isaiah is back on the hardwood, a dream that he once thought was taken away by his condition. It’s truly inspirational to read about stories like Isaiah’s because he never gave up on his dream and he didn’t give up on himself. He did not let his condition prevent him from pursuing his dream. He had to work extremely hard throughout his athletic career to overcome many challenges, from a retina tear in middle school which left him blind in one eye, to a shoulder injury in college, and most recently, Marfan Syndrome. While we don’t often work with patients with Marfan Syndrome, Isaiah benefited from having a very active lifestyle and healthy eating habits. Likewise, I hope you can draw inspiration from his testimony and never give up on your goals or dreams either. Whether it be in your fitness, your career, your rehabilitation, or other personal goals, set your mind to it and don’t let things or people discourage you.

You can listen to the interview Isaiah did with Cassy Athena and Thru The Lens:

Also, you can learn more about his story in this clip from OTL on ESPN:

If you would like to learn more about Marfan Syndrome, visit the Isaiah Austin Marfan Foundation.

Source: http://ballislife.com/thru-the-lens-isaiah-austin-has-been-cleared-to-play-basketball-again/