4MyChild: Help and Hope for Life

November 16, 2006

Junior Overcomes Cerebral Palsy To Play Game He Loves

Joseph Avila, a junior in Arkansas plays football for the varsity team, despite being afflicted with cerebral palsy.
From Arkansas’s The Daily News:

ROGERS — There is no question that quarterback Cody Kirby makes Rogers go.

After all, Kirby has thrown for 2,938 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 590 yards and 15 more touchdowns. Coaches and players alike say Kirby’s work ethic, love of the game and heart are second to none.

However, Kirby begs to differ about his impact and instead points to a player unknown to most Mounties fans as the true inspirational leader for Rogers.

Meet Joseph Avila.

You probably won’t hear Avila’s name called Friday night when the Mountaineers (11-0) entertain fellow 7A-West Conference member Fayetteville in a Class 7A semifinal playoff game in Gates Stadium. You also won’t find Avila’s name listed on the Mounties defensive stat sheet.

Avila, a 5-foot-9, 188-pound junior, doesn’t get much playing time with the varsity, but just being in uniform is a major accomplishment for the defensive lineman.

“If everybody had half the heart of Joseph and what he has gone through, we wouldn’t be touched,” Rogers trainer David Roller said.

Avila has Cerebral Palsy, and though it is a mild form of the disease, it still affects his running and his lateral movement, two key elements of football.

Read the full story, or read more inspirational stories about cerebral palsy.