Colin Couch is one of those people who refuses to throw in the towel. He may have cerebral palsy, but showing heart is the one thing his disease can’t take away from him.
“If you told me you needed me to, I would strap on a helmet and run down the field with you as fast as my broken legs would take me,” Couch said.
After writing a speech to his senior brothers about his incapabilities, the football team shed tears.
“When I read his speech aloud, the team was just in awe. Nobody said a word and Colin definitely earned our respect,” said senior football player Manny Psihountas.
If it’s not obvious already, Colin doesn’t go to the football games to be a spectator. In not only his eyes but also the football teams eyes, Colin Couch is a player.
“We treat him like he’s one of us,” Psihountas said.
Colin has to fight and overcome adversity everyday, but his disease never seems to get the best of him.
“The kid always has a smile on his face. I’ve never seen him down on himself and he’s a huge inspiration to me,” teammate Mitch Holsinger said.
When you choose to feel down on yourself because life isn’t going your way, think about Colin. Think about how much the kid goes through on a day-to-day basis, and think about how he never looses hope.
Below is the exact speech Colin Couch wrote to his teammates:
Dear Olathe Northwest Ravens Football Family,
I am writing this letter to say “Thank You” to ALL of you for allowing me to be your teammate and your friend and to participate in something so unique and special that many of you may not realize it’s impact and importance until many years later. Thanks to the Coaches and Administrators. Thank you to your Parents who have treated me like their own son. It has been my honor and privilege to stand by your side during times of prosperity and times of adversity. Whether you realize it or not, you all have enriched my life in ways that I cannot fully describe. Yes, I said teammate. You all know that a teammate is someone you can rely on and someone who also has YOUR back. That’s what teammates do. Nobody messes with My Teammates / My Brothers or they will have to deal with me. When you need me, know that I’m there for you. I would take a bullet for each and every one of you. If you told me you needed me to, I would strap on a helmet and run down the field with you as fast as my broken legs would take me. I would hit every person on that field who was wearing a different colored jersey, no matter how much it hurt me because I care that much for my team. I know I’m never going to be a great athlete like you all are, but nobody would ever try harder. I am not as fast as you all are, but God gave me a big heart and a lot of determination. I would run and continue to run until it killed me. Please remember that when adversity shows up. The day I was born, the doctors at the hospital told my parents that I wouldn’t make it through the night. Well, they were wrong. I fought through it because God gave me the will to survive. As a team we can get through any adversity if we have the will to look at the guy next to you and know that we are going to do more than survive, we are going to thrive!
If something seems insurmountable, come find me on the sidelines, and look me in the eyes and tell me something is too hard. I guess what I’m saying is, I don’t see obstacles in my life. I see opportunities. I see challenges that need to be overcome but NOTHING will ever be too hard for me because I BELIEVE that I can overcome ANYTHING. If I can do it with my circumstances, so can all of you!! You’re My Teammates, My Brothers, and My Friends and I appreciate every single one of you. SENIORS – We’ve been together since Elementary school and you’ve helped make me who I am. I hope that each of you has taken something away from knowing me and letting me be your teammate. I hope I have had some impact on you as well. Be there for each other and stand beside each other and with me as we take the field of battle and in life. Family Over Everything!
Your Teammate, Brother and Friend –
Colin Couch (Raven for Life)
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