|
Aaron Miller is a North Hagerstown High School student athlete recovering from leukemia. He cites his varsity letter and a wristband made with initials and jersey number among his cherished possessions. (By Kevin G. Gilbert/Staff Photographer / March 6, 2013) |
Aaron Miller has three cherished possessions from his junior year at North Hagerstown High School, including a varsity letter for football.
He never played a down or snapped on a helmet as the Hubs rolled to a 9-2 record, including a berth in the Maryland Class 3A playoffs.
But he was a driving force behind the team’s success.
During the first week of practice in mid-August, the offensive and defensive lineman was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and given little chance of survival.
But through a combination of positive thoughts, prayers, treatment, great genetics, a little luck and the drive to play football again, he not only remained involved with the Hubs, but inspired his teammates and an entire school.
Five months after his diagnosis, his leukemia was declared in remission. A month later, he played two minutes for the Hubs basketball team.
The second of his three cherished possessions is a torn, orange plastic bracelet inscribed with “A.M. 74” — his initials and football number — that sits on his kitchen table. The bracelets were worn by friends and teammates in his honor.
He ripped his bracelet off his wrist after finding out his leukemia was in remission, but he leaves it in sight to remember where he’s been.
And the third possession?
His life, complete with the chance to play football again.
This had been the year Miller anticipated for as long as he could remember.
Most everything he did was directed toward becoming an athlete, a high school student playing the game he loved.
Miller, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 255 pounds, spent his entire summer getting ready for preseason training.
He was a certified gym rat — lifting weights whenever he could, participating in football conditioning drills and playing summer league basketball — sometimes all in the same day.
But as training camp began, something wasn’t right.
“I wasn’t feeling well,” Miller said. “I had all the symptoms of strep throat. I went to the ER and the doctors told me that I had a virus and I would be better in a couple of days.”
Football practice began with a new training policy — heat acclimatization. Because of a rising trend of football-related heat strokes during hot summer practices, players were required to go through a gradual week of conditioning to prepare for workouts in pads.
Miller, 17, worked out and did everything required, but he was losing his edge. North line coach Greg Stains, who worked with Miller all summer, noticed he was slowing down and was unable to recover quickly between drills.
“Aaron’s work ethic is amazing,” Stains said. “He gives 110 percent all the time in practice. We had just finished practice and were about to put the pads on, and Aaron was having trouble getting back and forth. He was a step off.”
He never played a down or snapped on a helmet as the Hubs rolled to a 9-2 record, including a berth in the Maryland Class 3A playoffs.
But he was a driving force behind the team’s success.
During the first week of practice in mid-August, the offensive and defensive lineman was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and given little chance of survival.
But through a combination of positive thoughts, prayers, treatment, great genetics, a little luck and the drive to play football again, he not only remained involved with the Hubs, but inspired his teammates and an entire school.
Five months after his diagnosis, his leukemia was declared in remission. A month later, he played two minutes for the Hubs basketball team.
The second of his three cherished possessions is a torn, orange plastic bracelet inscribed with “A.M. 74” — his initials and football number — that sits on his kitchen table. The bracelets were worn by friends and teammates in his honor.
He ripped his bracelet off his wrist after finding out his leukemia was in remission, but he leaves it in sight to remember where he’s been.
And the third possession?
His life, complete with the chance to play football again.
This had been the year Miller anticipated for as long as he could remember.
Most everything he did was directed toward becoming an athlete, a high school student playing the game he loved.
Miller, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 255 pounds, spent his entire summer getting ready for preseason training.
He was a certified gym rat — lifting weights whenever he could, participating in football conditioning drills and playing summer league basketball — sometimes all in the same day.
But as training camp began, something wasn’t right.
“I wasn’t feeling well,” Miller said. “I had all the symptoms of strep throat. I went to the ER and the doctors told me that I had a virus and I would be better in a couple of days.”
Football practice began with a new training policy — heat acclimatization. Because of a rising trend of football-related heat strokes during hot summer practices, players were required to go through a gradual week of conditioning to prepare for workouts in pads.
Miller, 17, worked out and did everything required, but he was losing his edge. North line coach Greg Stains, who worked with Miller all summer, noticed he was slowing down and was unable to recover quickly between drills.
“Aaron’s work ethic is amazing,” Stains said. “He gives 110 percent all the time in practice. We had just finished practice and were about to put the pads on, and Aaron was having trouble getting back and forth. He was a step off.”
