Here are two sports-related stories that will hopefully make you feel a little better about humanity today.
First, that young lady in the banner pic is Nefeterius McPherson and upon first glance she may seem a little insane for wearing a West Virginia shirt at the Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, but she’s actually – cue the dramatic chipmunk – a Texas Longhorns fan. So what’s the deal, babe? Why would you insult your own team by wearing the opposing team’s shirt to a home game?
Because she’s awesome, that’s why. In 2005, McPherson was diagnosed with a rare liver disease and doctors told her that she would eventually need a transplant. Finally, she got the call that a match was found, and her new liver was coming from a 12-year old West Virginia girl who died from a brain hemorrhage… damn it, my sexy French maid forgot to dust again.
While she was relieved to have a match, McPherson said she struggled with knowing her organ donor was so young.
“How could I be happy about the transplant when I knew a family across town was mourning the loss of their child, their baby?” McPherson told the Charleston Gazette. “I really struggled with that. I still do sometimes. It’s bittersweet.” (Via the HuffPo)
And that’s where the WVU shirt and McPherson’s general awesomeness come into play.
The West Virginia University v. University of Texas football game on Saturday marked the 11-month anniversary of McPherson’s transplant. So McPherson, despite being a fifth-generation Texan, went to the game wearing a WVU shirt. Not just any shirt though — it was one of Hughes’.
Siva said McPherson is carrying on Hughes’ dream to “change the world.”
That’s pretty spectacular of McPherson to not only show her gratitude but to take up an entire cause in the name of the person who saved her life. If that doesn’t get you a little misty then I don’t know what to tell you. Oh wait, I do.
Last weekend in Pensacola, people took part in the 2012 Sea Turtle Triathlon, including 11-year old Ben Baltz, who has a prosthetic leg as the result of bone cancer. At some point during the mile run, Ben’s prosthetic broke and he was unable to finish the race on his own. That’s when Marine Private First Class Matthew Morgan scooped him up and, with the other volunteer marines who were on hand, helped Ben finish the triathlon.
Go ahead and get some tissues. Allergies are the worst.
