Los Angeles –
There weren’t too many things that could slow down Joey Garcia on the football field. The high school wide-receiver had great hands and even better speed. After his freshman season at Arroyo High School in El Monte, CA, Garcia was looking forward to a two-sport campaign as track and football star.
But on the day of his 16th birthday, all of those plans came to a halting stop. Garcia had his first seizure that day and not soon after would be diagnosed with epilepsy. Over the course of the next 15 months, Garcia would have countless seizures, many of which would leave him with a dislocated shoulder. Time in and out of the hospital forced him to withdraw from school and finish his high school studies being home-schooled. Football and track were out of the question.
In an effort to take control of his disease and to be an active member of the community known as End Epilepsy (Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles) Garcia and his family decided to take part in the foundation’s annual Walk to End Epilepsy at the Rose Bowl last November.
As an added bonus, Garcia was looking forward to meeting one of his favorite football players, UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley.
In addition to being a rising star in college football, Hundley is also an active member in the Fight to End Epilepsy, raising awareness and support on behalf of his sister, Paris, who has epilepsy.
But once again, the best-laid plans for Garcia were stopped in their tracks.
Garcia had a seizure on his way to the Walk and when he arrived at the Rose Bowl parking lot, he was met by an ambulance and taken to the hospital. The fleet-of-foot former football player fell roughly 100 yards short of meeting his hero.
Garcia described the year that followed, “the worst year of my life.”
A few months after the Walk, Garcia’s mother, Gabriela, posted a picture and story on Facebook about what had happened and how her son was still so appreciative that Hundley – unknowing of what had happened – still signed memorabilia and that Joey vowed to be back at the walk next year.
It was then that the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles got involved and thanks to Hundley and UCLA a day that had been a year in the making finally became a reality.
And the former high school wide receiver got a chance to show one of college football’s best quarterbacks, just how fast he can be.
If you’re interested in signing up for the Walk to End Epilepsy this year, it’ll be on November 16th at the Rose Bowl.
*This post was guest authored by Scott Christopher. You can find him on Twitter @ScottC247 *
