"Lively" would bean understatement for freshman cross-country runnerTaylor Lively of Lake Dallas, Texas. Diagnosed at 17 years old with cystic fibrosis (C. F.), a disease from which only 30,000 Americans suffered, Lively defied the odds and the doctors with his extraordinary hobby. Lively had been a runner for years, but he had no idea he was running for his life. He began running in the seventh grade when his mom, who was also a runner, encouraged him to try out for the track team. It was very painful for Lively, and by the end of his seventhgrade year he wanted to quit and try his luck with basketball. Lively and his mother made a deal: if he did not make the team, he would give running another go. As it turned out, basketball did not work out for him, and after a grueling second year on the track and crosscountry teams, Lively said he was ready to throw in the towel again. However, his high school coach thought differently. He told Lively, "You don't get the quitting option when you run like that." When Lively investigated the cause of his running pains, the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis came as a shock for him and his family. Because he had not been tested for the disease at birth, he had no idea this was the cause of his discomfort. Doctors told Lively that most C. F. patients could not survive without a lifetime of treatments and large amounts of medication. However, because Lively ran, his lungs were unusually strong, an asset that ultimately saved his life. "For a while I wondered why I was running because I kept getting sick and it was very painful, but when doctors told me that I had C. F. and that running had saved my life, it all made sense," Lively said. "I find a lot of encouragement from Jeremiah 29:11. It reminds me that God's got a plan, and you may not know exactly what God's will is but He's there." After years of building strength and stamina, Lively embraced his talent for running and went on to break four records at his high school and to win the Boomer-Einstein National Scholarship. Because Lively was such a talented athlete, one might have wondered what led him to Harding over the many other schools recruiting him, but Lively credited his decision to the influence of Coach Steve Guymon. While other coaches sounded less than thrilled at the news of a track star with C. F., Guymon perked up. According to Lively, Guymon was only the second coach in his entire running career to say that he believed in him. Lively's mother, Charla, agreed that God had a purpose for him because Lively was doing things he should not have been able to do. "He has a message for kids that it doesn't matter what obstacle is in your path," Charla said. "It's not about winning every race; it's about how you got there and how you handle yourself afterward, something Taylor does with a lot of grace." According to Charla, the coach of an opposing team at one of Lively's last high school races told her that his team doubled in size from the year before after being inspired by Lively's story. He was shaking up the running world. After Lively was featured on news programs in Dallas and on ESPN, Charla began receiving phone calls from emboldened parents all over the U.S. saying Lively's story had restored their optimism and inspired newfound hope. Lively hoped to continue to make a difference at Harding and on into the future. Although he was not sure where his path would take him, he had the goal of raising awareness for C. F. as a spokesperson. Lively was also considering a career as a track and cross-country coach. "A friend of mine once told me that if you can touch one person with your story, your life will be complete, so that's my goal," Lively said. Monique }ocques A friend of mine once told me that if you can touch one person with your story, your life will be comRiete, so that's my goa -.. freshman feature 105 A
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