Not to go too deep into my real life, but an article from Golfweek by Beth Ann Nichols really hit me this week.  Having kids of my own has really changed how I see the world and how I feel about things.  Mind blowing, right?  Anyway, when I read about a kid going through something they don’t deserve, it absolutely crushes me.  I find it very hard to imagine a poor kid having to go through their fight, but also the pain – the helplessness – their parents must feel.  Well this article I read about Cullan Brown, a college golfer at the University of Kentucky, and his battle with a rare bone cancer called osteosarcoma put me through this usual thought cycle.  While Cullan is only 14 years younger than me, the parent in me still gave me a certain emotional response I just didn’t have pre-kids.

A major point of this Golfweek article was to convey how great of a guy Cullan Brown is and how he positively affects those around him.  You also get a good insight into how he approaches life and inspires others.

Here’s an example:

Brown doesn’t need golf to make him happy. Redshirt freshman Jay Kirchdorfer spent the past year trying to be the same.

“I really think that’s his secret weapon,” said Kirchdorfer. “We’re all out there getting mad and frustrated. He’s just over there hitting shots, talking about food, looking in the trees for ducks, a deer if he can find one.”

I love it.  I imagine this guy spotting some rare warbler sitting on a fence post and then immediately knocking down a flag stick with a roped 6 iron.  Repeat the process.  The article has more stories of a similar vibe.  My takeaway was that this kid just loves to be happy and live life in the present.  He loves to make everyone around him feel happy and loved.  Now those people are there to support him as he goes through this difficult battle.

One thing I learned in the article is that this form of cancer is typically found in people under 25 years old and it’s usually not until they actually break a bone.  The problem is, if the bone breaks, the limb usually has to be amputated.  Fortunately, Brown did not break a bone and was diagnosed after bumping his knee.  Now he has to take every precaution to protect his leg which comes at an expense.  To help defray costs, teammate Jay Kirchdorfer setup a GoFundMe page for Cullan.  Click here to visit it if you want.

Go read the Golfweek article here.  There’s a lot more to learn about Cullan Brown and I really enjoyed the read.  Plus he’s a big bbq/brisket guy so consider me a big fan now.  Overall, I found the portrayal of Brown to be very uplifting and inspirational.  Of course, all of us at DRH will be thinking of Brown during his battle and will follow along closely.