A Mansfield teen’s dreams of playing basketball came to an unexpected end when a mystery illness sidelined her. But a determined coach made sure she still got her chance to shine on the court.
Eighth grader Mady Walker had big dreams of playing basketball for Jobe Middle School. While she had only played the sport for a short time, her prospects looked good.
“I had a plan,” Mady said. “I’m going to do sports in seventh grade and then it’s going to go all the way through high school. I’m going to put everything into that.”
But those plans changed a little over a year ago, when she woke up and discovered she couldn’t see like she used to. She had lost her peripheral vision and her sight became blurry. Not long after that, she lost feeling in her right leg. She now has to use a brace to get around.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said her mother Kati Walker. “We were so excited about where our girls were headed and then we felt like we were just hit.”
Mady Walker’s doctors still aren’t 100 percent sure what’s causing these problems – but because of them, she never got to try out for the basketball team.
“I was lost,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do.”
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She’s tried to stay positive throughout the ordeal and still helps the basketball team in any way she can, whether it's running the game clock or helping the team warm up.
“I hope that people who also face obstacles won’t ever give up,” Mady said. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Jobe Middle School basketball coach Stephanie Upshaw said Mady’s attitude has inspired the team – and she didn’t want to see her dreams come crashing down.
“She’s a special kid,” said Upshaw.
She talked with the basketball coach at rival Howard Middle School and both agreed that Mady Walker should not only play in their game – she needed to score.
“It was a no brainer," said Upshaw.
Last Thursday, when the two teams played, Mady Walker took the court with the team and made a layup.
“When I was with all my friends and everyone who came to help me and be there with me, it made me really happy,” Mady said.
The Howard basketball team also showed their support, making a sign for Mady Walker wishing her good luck.
“They really supported Mady,” said her father Jeff Walker. “It was great to see her out on the court and able to make a shot one last time. It’s something that I’ll never forget.”
“Just getting to see her out there and the smile on her face, the excitement I know she was feeling was worth it,” said Upshaw.
Although Mady admits it’s still hard for her to accept that that was her last game, she said she’s eternally grateful her career ended the way it did.
“It was exciting,” she said. “I was really happy.”
She said she’ll continue to support the basketball team, and she now has her sights set on becoming a neo-natal nurse.
