Back in August during a preseason football practice at Garcelon Field, the coaches announced that it was time for 鈥渦p downs.鈥� On the whistle, everyone gets down on the ground and then jumps back up, over and over until the drill is complete.
For head coach Malik Hall, the exercise is a metaphor, a life lesson that extends beyond physical fitness. All you have to do is keep getting back up 鈥斅� whether it鈥檚 after a tackle on the football field or when facing adversity in life.
Fast-forward to a recent practice before the team鈥檚 first game. Running onto the field comes 6-year-old Brayden Austin. Hall introduces him to the team as someone who has had a lot of ups and downs in life 鈥� someone who gets up every single day and keeps on fighting.
The little boy will join the team as an honorary captain this year, Hall announces.
With seniors Jon Lindgren of Plainville, Conn., Zach Doyon of Eliot, Maine, and Matt Golden of New Bedford, Mass., Brayden Austin walks onto Garcelon Field for the pre-game coin toss vs. Middlebury on Sept. 21. (Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College)
Austin hops into the stretch line. He鈥檚 high-fiving everyone and copying every move in the warm-up. Instantly, Austin becomes a Bobcat.
Back in March 2015 when Austin was 20 months old, his life changed forever. One Saturday, he woke up at 5 a.m., ate breakfast, and played with his older brother and his toys. 鈥淚t was like any other Saturday morning,鈥� recalls his mother, Jennie Cloutier-Austin.
Then came great pain and distress. Transported by Lifeflight helicopter to The Barbara Bush Children鈥檚 Hospital in Portland, he endured two life-saving surgeries within 48 hours, losing all of his small intestine and half of his large intestine.
He had suffered a midgut volvulus, in which the small intestine wraps tightly around the large intestine, cutting off blood circulation.
Four years after his health crisis, Brayden Austin is full of energy and joy at the 乐播传媒 football practice on Sept. 19. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)
While in the hospital, Austin suffered two major strokes and had more emergency surgeries. At one point, he was given less than a 50 percent chance of survival. Hospitalized for three months, he received his daily nutrition from a central line IV that ran for up to 24 hours a day.
鈥淗e is such a miracle,鈥� says his mother.
Now, four years later on a warm September afternoon, a visitor to Garcelon Field during football practice simply sees an energetic little boy. Though there have been setbacks along the way, and certain treatment regimens continue, his IV line is now gone and most of his nutrition comes from eating, the rest from a stomach feeding tube.
鈥淗e is such a miracle,鈥� says his mother, watching her son bounce around practice blocking pads on the sidelines. 鈥淗e may not understand the ins and outs of the game, but he knows how amazing it is to be a part of the team,鈥� especially when his fellow Bobcats give him a fist bump and a 鈥楬ey Brayden!鈥欌��
鈥淭he biggest thing that stands out to me about having Brayden around the team is his positivity,鈥� says Angus Lamond 鈥�21, an offensive lineman from Portsmouth, N.H. 鈥淗e鈥檚 had to deal with adversity his whole life, yet when he鈥檚 around the team he鈥檚 always so happy. It reminds us all to stay positive throughout adversity.鈥�
With enthusiasm, honorary team captain Brayden Austin joins the 乐播传媒 football team for practice on Sept 19. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)
From a grave diagnosis, Austin is now thriving because he had access to expert medical professionals and a world-class pediatric intensive care unit at The Barbara Bush Children鈥檚 Hospital. And that鈥檚 how the connection between Austin and 乐播传媒 football began.
鈥淏rayden gets up each day and says, 鈥楤ring it on.鈥�”
Last year, the college hosted a Children鈥檚 Miracle Network dance marathon fundraiser on campus, raising over $19,000 to benefit the Bush facility. The event organizer, Natalie Brewer 鈥�21 of New Britain, Conn., connected Hall and Austin鈥檚 family, who live nearby in Sabattus.
鈥淲hen you see Brayden, a child who has had to fight for his life, that gives you a new perspective on your purpose,鈥� says Hall. 鈥淎nd I want our student-athletes to know to do things for a bigger purpose. You don鈥檛 play just for yourself.鈥�
On Sept. 21, Austin enjoyed another thrill, taking part in the official coin toss prior to the home opener vs. Middlebury. Holding hands with his fellow 乐播传媒 captains and his 10-year old brother, Carter, they walked together to midfield.
鈥淏rayden gets up each day and says, 鈥楤ring it on鈥� to whatever the world has to give him,鈥� says Matt Golden 鈥�20, a running back from New Bedford, Mass.
鈥淲e look to follow Brayden鈥檚 example: If we get knocked down, we strive to get up, look our challenges in the face, and say, 鈥楤ring it on,鈥� in football and in life.鈥�
Brayden Austin gives a leg hug to Phil Simplicio 鈥�20 of West Hartford, Conn., during practice at Garcelon Field on Sept. 19. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)
