Here’s a great story about
Greg Hansbrough – Tyler and Ben Hansbrough’s older brother. For those of you
who don’t follow U.S. basketball, Tyler Hansbrough is an American professional
basketball player who had an outstanding collegiate career. As Michigan State
Spartan alumni, I have to say that I wasn’t Tyler's greatest fan…mostly because he
was so good, so tenacious and so tough to beat.
I now understand that he got
much of that from his older brother, Greg, who has fought brain cancer with the
same toughness and tenacity.
Here’s a link to a
well-written article about both Hansbrough brothers by Dana Hunsinger Benbow, of
USA TODAY Sports: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/03/13/indiana-pacers-tyler-hansbrough-ben-hansbrough-greg-hansbrough/1985373/
I like the article because
it provides an unflinching survivor story with a happy ending. According to the March 18th, 2013 story "When Greg first
got diagnosed, he wasn't given much of a chance," said Tyler, 27, as he
sat on the Pacers practice court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday.
"I
watched him overcome obstacles that most people never see in their
lifetime," Tyler told The Indianapolis Star.
"What
he's been through, he's a fighter. He's a warrior," said Ben. "He's
been a fighter his whole life."
Benbow
goes on to write that “Fighter for sure. Although surgery to remove the tumor
was successful, doctors thought Greg would never walk again. He not only
walked, but he ran.
He
played basketball for four years at his high school in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He ran
track. He's played soccer and run marathons as an adult even though the surgery
had long-term effects on the left side of his body. He can't move his left hand
or the toes on his left feet.”
Both Ben and Tyler
have come out as a celebrity spokesmen for Voices Against Brain Cancer -http://www.voicesagainstbraincancer.org/ - to raise
awareness and brain cancer research funding.
It’s
a nice story that’s well-written. I highly recommend that you read it…especially
if you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer and are
searching for stories of folks who have battled this horribly disease and won.
