Imagine having a seizure while doing something you love. You shake uncontrollably and lose control of your body and awareness during a very frightening moment. Your life would never be the same. Jerry Kills, Head Coach of the University of Minnesota’s Football team, is one unfortunate victim of Epilepsy, a serious neurological disorder that causes seizures.
Despite this however, Kills doesn’t allow it to affect his lifestyle. Jerry sees the seizures as nothing more than a distraction, one that him and everyone around him should ignore. Rather than choosing an easygoing lifestyle, Kills chose to stick with one of the most stressful occupations in the nation. This past week, Kills suffered a seizure on the sidelines during a game. His entire staff calmly followed a procedure that Kills had laid out for them, which included carrying on without him. In the previous years, when Kills would get a seizure during a game, the fans and players would be scared and worried for their coach. However the rest of the coaching staff would be there to mend the situation. However, even after every violent seizure, Kills shows up at his desk the next morning ready to do his job as if nothing had happened. His determination to his players and to win truly defines how strong he is.
Kills didn’t let his condition affect his life. He merely “stood up” instead of letting it control his life. At one point, Kills had kidney cancer, yet he treated it like his epilepsy. He chose to be strong and fight and now his cancer is in remission. True strength does not lie within your physique, but your heart and head.
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- Jerry Kills Head Coach
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- University of Minnesota Football Stadium
