Summary: A young boy named Glenn Cunningham had the job of coming to school early each day so that he could use kerosene to start the fire and warm the room before his teacher and his classmates arrived. One cold morning someone mistakenly filled the kerosene container he used with gasoline, and disaster struck.
He had major burns over the lower half of his body and was taken to a nearby county hospital. The doctor told his mother that her son would surely die. The mother was told that since the fire had destroyed so much flesh in the lower part of his body, it would almost be better if he had died, since he was doomed to be a lifetime cripple with no use at all of his lower limbs. His mother refused to let the doctors amputate. Ultimately through his daily massages, Glenn's determination, he did develop the ability first to stand up, then to walk haltingly with help, then to walk by himself and then, miraculously, to run. Later in college Glenn made the track team where his tremendous determination paid off. He eventually received the nickname the "Kansas Flyer."
Reflection: Determination can get you anywhere. Its amazing to to see that Cunningham was able to achieve such a goal. To think that someone could run, helping youth along the way is truly amazing given what Cunningham had been through. For many of us, we would have given up. So, for all facing challenges, and you cannot be a member of the human race without facing challenges, this story should pick each one of us up and get us going toward our own dreams.
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