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Prep Roundup
Columnists Brian Meadows Brad NormanMembersLocal Connection› Iredell County Young Athletes Association› South Iredell Athletics Association › SHS athletics › WIHS athletics › NIHS athletics › SIHS athletics › LNHS athletics Syndicate RSSAP NASCAR NASCAR Features A look at this year's schedule A look at this year's drivers Differences between stock car and open-wheel racing NASCAR Research & Development Petty Enterprises splitter testing Aerodynamic testing in Concord's wind tunnel Top 10 moments in Daytona history Site StatisticsThis page has been viewed 294326 timesPage rendered in 0.2419 seconds Total Stories: 2136 Total Comments: 34 Most Recent Entry: 08/15/2008 12:53 pm Most Recent Comment on: 04/17/2008 10:54 pm Most Recent Visitor on: 11/20/2008 11:25 pm |
• Public Schools • West Iredell High School • top story
2008 Jul-02
West Iredell’s Daniels is back on the diamond after difficult stretchBy BRAD NORMAN
During past baseball seasons and summer conditioning at West Iredell, he routinely pumped six or seven meals a day into his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. He’s a steak-and-potato guy, but Brennan, a rising senior, didn’t discriminate — he ate everything. But prior to West Iredell’s baseball season last spring, Brennan stopped eating as much. The few times he did eat, he couldn’t hold his food down. His meals eventually waned down to practically nothing. And that was the first clue. “He loves to eat and he loves food,” Brennan’s mom, Jennie Daniels, said. “He is not picky at all. That’s when we knew something wasn’t right, when he couldn’t eat anything.” There were other problems as well. Brennan’s heart rate shot up. His muscles began to atrophy despite working out with the baseball team. He was tired all the time. The family at first feared the worst possible diagnosis — cancer. “I couldn’t lift as much weight as I really wanted to,” Brennan said. “I had muscle cramps and felt sick a lot. But I kept pushing myself during baseball season when I didn’t get the outcome that I wanted, and I think that made it worse.” After months of questions and a 40-pound weight loss in eight weeks, Brennan and his family finally got an answer. He was diagnosed with Graves Disease on May 6, shortly after the high school baseball season ended. “We knew something was wrong and Brennan knew something was wrong,” Jennie Daniels said. “It was pretty devastating. When we heard it wasn’t cancer, that was the big weight lifted off our shoulders, and his, too. I think he was thinking the worst because everything was going down so fast.” Graves Disease is a disorder that affects the thyroid, a gland found in the neck that controls metabolism and how quickly the body burns energy. The disease typically results in thyroid enlargement or hyperthyroidism — an overactive thyroid. Expecting the worst, it was almost a relief for Brennan to hear the diagnosis. Not knowing why he was so tired and losing weight at a rapid pace, Brennan continued to push himself during workouts, thinking maybe he just wasn’t working hard enough. “After the doctor told him he had Graves Disease, the first thing Brennan said was, ‘I know it’s not me,’ ” Brennan’s father, Mike Daniels, said. “The main thing he said was he felt like he was letting his team down, so he pushed himself more and more.” Somehow, Brennan did not miss a scheduled pitching start this season. He had emerged as one of West Iredell’s top pitchers as a sophomore, and the Warriors coaching staff planned to use him as the No. 1 starter this season. “He continued to work out, and he worked hard this year,” West coach Buck Gatton said. “He lost quite a bit of weight throughout the season. We didn’t know exactly what was wrong, but looking back, it explains a lot. I would think that took quite a toll on him.” Sometimes it got so bad that Brennan fell asleep while in the middle of a conversation. Once during a game against Carson, Brennan couldn’t feel his fingers. So he made a hasty trip to the bathroom to run his hand under hot water in an attempt to still pitch. “It’s been tough,” Brennan said. “Some days I feel like playing baseball a lot. Some days it’s easier than others.” Brennan took a radioiodine pill — a pill with a high dosage of radiation — June 20. That should shrink his thyroid, although he may have to undergo another treatment. He will also have to take a pill every day for the rest of his life. But he is already recovering. Brennan has gained seven pounds since his diagnosis to creep back above 160, and has played for the Statesville Owlz. His quick comeback comes as no surprise to his parents or coaches because Brennan has always fought through hardships. Brennan broke his collarbone during the fall two years ago, but still pitched during baseball season. Last year, he played the entire season with a broken thumb that eventually required surgery. Brennan played in his first American Legion game June 14 against Stanly County. “I had to play,” he said with a grin. “We only had nine players there.” He has a couple of souvenirs from that contest, too. A couple of huge gnarled-but-fresh scars reside on his arm and knee after an aggressive slide during that first game back. What base did Brennan slide into, ripping his body up? “It was second, third and home,” Brennan said with a chuckle. “All of ’em, really. It left a mark.” In coming back from Graves Disease and with one season of high school baseball remaining, Brennan hopes to do the same. Bookmarkz |
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