Congratulations to Max Gray for his inspiring Success Story ...
He's the winner of a 1% T-shirt.

"Sophomore year, my summer was going great. I felt unstoppable!
During one of my team scrimmages, I dove for a pas, caught it,
and landed weird. I got up and knew I was hurt, but kept going.
I was new to varsity and wanted to keep playing, but just couldn't.
I took a week off - I couldn't walk, sleep, or do anything without
pain.

The doctor said I was fine - just a sprained back. I began playing,
but it kept hurting. I went back to the same doctor, but he kept
saying it was just sprained. I didn't believe it. Was I really THAT
weak? A sprained back, and I'm in THIS much pain? I hated everything.

I finally went to a different doctor, who looked at the same MRI and
said it was FRACTURED! I had been playing for 2 months with a fractured
back. I remember being in so much pain, but nothing compared to when he
told me I'd never play football again. I was depressed, I cried - it
was extremely hard. I was stuck in a back brace for 6 months. I had
no motivation until one day I realized I couldn't give up! I watched
videos from Giavanni Ruffin, which inspired me a lot.

I was finally able to do little things like push ups and sit ups. Every
day, I was doing everything I possibly could. It hurt, but I knew
the pain wouldn't last forever - I kept pushing myself. I would go early
before school every day and just run, work out, and think. It was tough
because there was still doubt in me that I couldn't play again. I eventually
started track season, and hurt it again on the hurdles. I found a way
to fight back and made it to bi-districts. Now, I'm here ... taking no
days off, making sure that never happens again!

I truly feel blessed to be able to play football and be a State competitor in
track. I'm a fighter! I'm striving to be a kick returner and wide receiver
at the college level. I'd be humbled to play ANYWHERE!"

-Max Gray
(@alldaymaxgray)