Shrine Bowl Special Guest Makes Leap From "He'll Never Walk" to Semi-Pro Football
One of the most devastating messages a doctor can deliver to a mother about her newborn has to be “he’ll never be able to walk.” Theresa Masterson of Springfield, Mo. vividly remembers that message from the doctor who delivered her second son, Nick Flannigan, in 1980. The baby was born with a condition called “congenital clubfoot,” his feet pointed downward and inward so badly that his big toes touched. “We put him in a cast immediately, but after several months, there seemed to be no change in his condition,” she says. “We didn’t have much money, and I don’t know what we would have done without the Shriners.” Friends told Nick’s parents about the Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis, and in February of 1981 at the tender age of 6 months, Nick was on his way to St. Louis. He had two surgeries within the first three months of his arrival, the first two of seven total surgeries that Nick received free of charge at the St. Louis Hospital. “From the moment we walked into the hospital, we were welcomed with open arms,” she says. “They made us feel like part of their family.” As he grew (and had more surgeries), Nick wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and older brother, both whom played football. His dad was a football coach who had been an All-American linebacker at Evangel College in Springfield. His brother Shawn, now a successful high school coach in Ozark, Missouri, provided plenty of help and emotional support. Nick launched his football career in the third grade with Mighty Mite football, then progressed through junior high and high school football, and a year of college ball at Evangel. A neck and shoulder injury forced him out of the college game prematurely, but the love of football was still there. After laying out of football for two years while his shoulder and neck healed, he joined the hometown Springfield Rifles, a semi-pro team in the North American Football League, where he played one season. Both Nick and Theresa have fond memories of Nick’s the time spend at the St. Louis Hospital. “It was a second home to me,” he says. All of the people there were very kind, and I made a lot of friends.” There’s probably no way to fully appreciate the impact that Shriners have had on Nick’s life. “It’s been tremendous,” he says. “It’s turned me from becoming a crippled kid into one that’s had many opportunities, including playing the game I love.” His mother agrees. “If it hadn’t been for the Shriners, Nick would have never walked. We simply could not have afforded all the surgeries and care that he received.” Nick and Theresa are both giving back to the Shriners in their own way. Theresa is a frequent speaker at Shrine gatherings, telling Nick’s story. And Nick will soon be in a position to join the thousands of Shriners who have dedicated themselves to helping children. He plans to become a Shriner this winter. Nick has been chosen as the 2006 “Shrine Bowl Special Guest Former Hospital Patient”, and will be introduced at the Shrine Bowl banquet on Friday, July 28, at Pittsburg High School. He will also be part of the Shrine Bowl Parade on game day, and be part of the coin toss before kickoff. Nick’s expenses to attend the Shrine Bowl festivities are covered by Bill and Nadine McAdams. Bill is a Shriner from Moran, Kansas, who hosts the Special Guest each year. Proceeds from the game support the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic and burn care to children under 18. Advance reserved chairback tickets are $20.00 in advance, $21.00 on game night. Adult general admission tickets are $9.00 in advance, $10.00 on game night. Student tickets are $5.00 in advance, $6.00 on game night. Banquet tickets are $20.00, and must be purchased in advance. Advance game tickets and banquet tickets can be purchased through the Shrine Bowl office by calling 1-800-530-5524 Additional information and a link to Shriners Hospitals for Children can be found at http://www.ksshrine.com |