I Wonder What God Is Going To Do With This: Roger Crawford Part 2

Some stories are meant to make you laugh. Some are meant to make you cry.

Others are simply meant to make you get out of bed, look in the mirror and recite to your reflection, "How Lucky Am I?"

I told of the "Pebble In My Shoe" in the opening piece on Saturday (which chronicled my battle with situational depression. The loss of my wife, my kids, my house, my job, and my self esteem left me cowering like a baby most mornings).

My informal introduction to Roger Crawford saved my life. I read Roger's story in "Chicken Soup for the Soul" every day until I committed it to memory. Each day I'd rise licking my emotional wounds and think of "my imaginary friend, Roger" immediately realizing that my plight in life isn't so bad.

Each day I'd find the strength to turn "I can't" into "I might be able to" and eventually into "I can."

You see, some people take the lemons that God gives them and makes lemonade. Then there is Roger Crawford, who takes the same lemon and plants a tree, a grove, and ultimately a factory to allow everyone to have a glass.

Roger was born with ectrodactylism, a rare birth defect which effects one in 90,000 children born in the United States. The disease left Roger with a thumb-like projection extending directly out of his right forearm and a thumb along with a finger sticking out of his left forearm.

He had no palms and his arms and legs were shortened. He had only three toes on his shrunken right foot and a withered left leg which would later be amputated. 

The Crawford's doctor informed them that Roger would probably never walk or care for himself.

Fortunately, Roger's parents didn't believe the doctor.

Roger's true life story of becoming "The Worlds Greatest Physically Challenged Athlete" as named by Sports Illustrated, is truly an inspiring story. But even more than a tennis player as well as an unknowing inspiration to just me, Roger has taken the world upon his athletic shoulders and has turned his personal lemon into lemonade for many.

Roger was flattered when I caught up to him by phone last week. "Todd, your story is so amazing. I'm flattered that you'd hold me in such high regard", Roger said after I told him that speaking to him was my personal equivalent of 'talking to a God.'

"I'm always thrilled to have the opportunity to tell my story. I'm really honored to help others and have a role in others' lives," said the gifted role model to so many.

I asked Roger what made him pick up a tennis racket for the first time.

"I was a shy kid partially because of my challenge," he explained.

"We had just moved from Ohio to California and I hardly knew anyone. My parents and I went into a sporting goods store and I got my finger caught in a racquet. I saw that as a sign from God."

Once Roger found his special racquet, he realized that tennis was the perfect game for someone of his unique ability.

"Tennis was great for me because I could practice by myself hitting the ball against a wall. Once I learned how to play a bit, I focused and attacked it with a vengeance."

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