Sydney
Isaiah Austin, a true Basketball champion, lost his sight in one eye in the 8th grade, but forever maintained his “life vision”.
Isaiah always had a dream that one day his name was going to be called in the NBA draft, that he would walk on the stage and accept his nomination. He never lost sight of his “vision” to be the best that he can be despite having to overcome enormous obstacles being physically visually impaired.
Standing at 7’1″ tall, with a wider wingspan of 7’3″, Isaiah was just 5 days from being named in the NBA draft, when he tested positive to Marfan Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting the body’s 
connective tissue. What this meant for Isaiah, is that he could never play competitive basketball again, or he could risk serious injury or even death.
The arteries in his heart were enlarged and at risk of rupturing if he were to continue with intense training if he overworked his body or pushed too hard.
In his book, Dream Again, by Isaiah Austin, A Story of Faith, Courage, and the Tenacity to Overcome, Isaiah talks about his life story rather than his adversities.
Make it your excuse or make it your story.
Isaiah Austin on facing hardships
He continues to lead a full life, raising money to continue research to raise awareness on Marfan Syndrome. He strives to give people hope, to help people realise what a blessing life really is, and to try to be there to encourage others to find out what it really means to Dream Again in their own lives.
I feel I am one of the lucky ones, learning to find a new dream.
“My vision is a huge deal to me, I don’t ever take it for granted, I’ve always taken great pride in how well I saw the game of basketball. especially when I was out there on there competing on the court, and I have worked hard to see those things with one good eye better than most players could with two.”
“When I talk about how to see, I now talk about something much bigger. Life vision is all about how well you can visualise your dreams. I’ve learnt to look towards the positive. To see my dreams coming true even when they took an unexpected turn. Dreams are important.”
There are so many people who are afraid to follow their visions / their dreams. Isaiah’s book and his Foundation will inspire anyone wanting to find their purpose and demonstrate through genuine hard work and faith, you will find your way.
The team here at What Do I Do are proud supporters of the Marfan Foundation and will continue to educate and provide awareness of this often misdiagnosed and misunderstood disease, with some victims often finding out too late that they had the condition, leaving their loved ones struggling for answers.
* The opinions expressed in this article are the views of the author, and not necessarily the views of 'What Do I Do', its staff, or its partners. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. 'What Do I Do' does not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained on this website. Users should seek appropriate independent professional advice prior to relying on or entering into any commitment based on material published here, which material is purely published for reference purposes alone.
