My son, Thomas Walls, participated in five different sports throughout his short life: baseball, soccer, wrestling, football and ice hockey. He also learned to sail as a teenager. He loved the physical challenge and the sense of competition. He was not always the star player, but the time he spent sitting on the bench was dedicated to learning the game and supporting his teammates. In successful wins or disappointing losses, he never gave up and wouldn’t back down.
Thomas had some challenges in his athletic journey. He developed severe allergies that caused respiratory problems. Hockey practices were sometimes cut short while he “restored his airway.” He kept playing. Collisions with other hockey players on the ice produced stitches to his face. He kept playing. As with many soccer players, he developed knee problems. He followed the doctor’s orders and continued to play. His spirit, dedication and competitive nature earned many trophies, the friendship and respect of his teammates and coaches, and recognition as a leader.
As a mother, I was less interested in the wins and losses, but I viewed all of Thomas’s sports activity with three main goals:
- Make sure he was very tired at the end of practice and games
- Make sure he was respectful of coaches, teammates and opponents, and learned to win – and lose – with grace and goodwill
- Help him learn to set goals for improvement – the “practice makes perfect” approach to skill development and character building.
When Thomas died in 2007, the Evansville hockey community created a scholarship and character award to honor his memory. They wanted to recognize future hockey players that demonstrated the same character traits that made Thomas a successful athlete, student and leader. Since his uniform number for Evansville Thunder was six, they created the “Thunder 6” award, noting six personal qualities all athletes should aspire to respect, effort, leadership, sportsmanship, personal fitness and attitude. As it happens, Thomas gave the gift of life to six men and women who received his lifesaving organs.
The Indiana Donor Network 5K race has been a perfect opportunity to celebrate Thomas and his love for sports. Although Thomas never thought of himself as a track and field or distance runner, many of his former teammates – now 30-something – have taken up running as a fitness activity and have joined “Team Thomas” for the Indiana Donor Network 5k in Evansville. Members of his Evansville Thunder hockey team brought their parents and children, his wrestling teammate and college friend brought his whole family, and his coaches and their families have joined in. The Indiana Donor Network 5K is a great way to celebrate Thomas and his love of life, his spirit of competition, and his gift of life to others as a registered donor.
Written by: Lee Ann Shafer, donor mother
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