Popular Post Jerseys4Hope Posted April 4, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 (edited) It's good to meet everyone here that loves college hoops like I do and I've been following Indiana a lot more lately since we have family there and I would love nothing more than some sort of way to move them to that area. Primarily because it's a cradle of basketball and so close to so many teams. But also because of how I've gradually become a bigger and bigger fan of IU basketball over the last couple years. This post will be kinda long but I felt compelled to share my story here because I've been incredibly depressed lately esp with the season winding down and feeling like it's hopeless to be able to properly move forward in life and get my family to Indiana. When I was 2 years old, I fell from a 2nd-story window and hit my head and developed epileptic and subsequent spectrum disorder symptoms, causing me to convulse while fully conscious and a feeling of needing to constantly be moving and pacing in order to not move my arms so much. I was made fun of in school for doing my best to control my convulsions and the teachers could tell that something was odd, though my first grade teacher did not understand well and frequently would embarrass me in front of the class while I was trying to control my movements and not distract the fellow students. I have suffered from problematic epilepsy since 2008 when I began to develop memory issues and a loss of the ability to use language and math for minutes on end and then developed severe epilepsy in 2012 with serious loss of consciousness and major seizures with full convulsions and the condition continues to become more and more troublesome. Constant seizures are a way of life and as such I am not properly able to provide for my family and overcoming these episodes has proven incredibly difficult, but I am very fortunate in that I have had some amazing support through these last several years. As I became increasingly saddened by my struggles, I decided to reach out to those who help me get through my day and relax, focusing my thoughts on something constant that can ground me and make my episodes less frequent. The sports world, particularly college basketball has been that constant that keeps me calm when other things can’t. To my amazement, after I began writing to the schools and created a twitter handle, I started to get jerseys in the mail…it was a magical, overwhelming show of compassion that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Even though I still don't have an IU jersey yet, I want to thank you dearly from the bottom of my heart, I am eternally grateful to your program and fanbase, and I would love to keep this rolling and gain an even greater ability to connect with people who face the struggles of epilepsy. After I started to receive jerseys, it gave me an idea. The outpouring of kindness from these schools is nothing short of a miracle for me. To date, I have received 269 of the 357 D1 jerseys, now 75% of the way there. I am attempting to unite all of college basketball to raise awareness for epilepsy and what these schools do for so many who are fighting through it, especially in terms of research and students who move on to help individuals with epilepsy try to live a better life, or in some cases they constantly save people’s lives on a daily basis. It has been wonderful to see this idea come to fruition and completing this collection is going to help so many others to learn that their struggles can be overcome with the help of the efforts of these schools. Ultimately, as I receive the remaining jerseys and gain enough financial ability, my goal is to be able to move my family to Indiana and go to games in the area since there are so many close by. Sharing stories, meeting other people impacted by epilepsy, helping them stay positive, and being courtside at games all over the place (you never know where I might pop up ;-). Especially at IU & Assembly Hall, one of the most important cradles of college basketball I want to help people not be afraid, and to educate other people that aren’t impacted by epilepsy about how to support those who are. This would be a dream come true and I hope that there is a way to make this happen one day! My twitter is: @358jerseys4hope I'd love to have you follow me and interact as much as possible!! From my 2 brain surgeries a few years ago: Still recovering in 2022 but trying to help people stay positive: Y'all are awesome and I continue to become more and more of an IU fan. I think the team is gonna be quite good next season! Hopefully I can watch a game in person over there one day! The Big Ten atmospheres look so much more vibrant than our Pac12 ones here and there is just so much more college basketball close by! I'll make sure to be active here as it seems like a really fun group! Edited April 4, 2022 by Jerseys4Hope 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5fouls Posted April 4, 2022 Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 Thank you so much for sharing your story. As an IU fan, I can honestly say I'm disappointed that you have not yet received a jersey from Indiana. Hopefully, someone at IU quickly receives word of your post here and jump starts the effort to get one delivered. If you ever do achieve your goal of making Indiana your home, dont limit yourself to college basketball. There are still many areas if the state where high school basketball remains a religion. There are some truly historic high school venues in this state, with fan bases second to none. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RoadToZion Posted April 4, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 Welcome. I'll work on getting you a jersey. Any certain number you'd like? 11 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseys4Hope Posted April 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 12 minutes ago, RoadToZion said: Welcome. I'll work on getting you a jersey. Any certain number you'd like? 12 would be awesome! Wow thank you!! I'm a big guy so I usually wear XXL. Yeah this group is awesome! You seem to have a very objective viewpoint of things. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyhoosier29 Posted April 4, 2022 Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 God bless! It’s easy to forget the struggles some go through when bickering on here about a stupid game. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseys4Hope Posted April 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 Thanks y'all my venmo is @Jerseys4Hope so if any of y'all have connections I would love to come to a game this next season! I'll make sure to wear the glasses so you see me on TV!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Indykev Posted April 4, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 If you get to BTown your IU game ticket is on me. But if you have a Purdue jersey, we would need a picture of it on fire first. . Welcome to the best IU forum going. 3 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseys4Hope Posted April 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 2 minutes ago, Indykev said: If you get to BTown your IU game ticket is on me. But if you have a Purdue jersey, we would need a picture of it on fire first. . Welcome to the best IU forum going. I am gonna do my best. We have family in Greenwood just south of Indy so it wouldn't be super far away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slojoe Posted April 4, 2022 Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 I wish you the best of luck in dealing with your epilepsy. I hope the surgery works. However, although i won't go into detail, I have to warn you that all the posters here are certifiable nut cases except me. They come here so they can feel normal around all the other nuts. But don't tell anyone else. Excuse me I have to go put on my tinfoil antenna, they are at it againl 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inequality Posted April 4, 2022 Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 Welcome @Jerseys4Hope. Thanks for sharing your incredible story. Glad to have you around. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseys4Hope Posted April 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2022 2 minutes ago, Inequality said: Welcome @Jerseys4Hope. Thanks for sharing your incredible story. Glad to have you around. Happy to be here and grateful to make more connections with people. Figured one of the best ways to get motivated to move is to keep chatting with people from Indiana and especially Hoosier fans. Things feel like they're kinda going downhill where I'm at and Indiana is far more affordable and there is so much basketball happening, that I can focus on that and have a lot fewer seizures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierMama Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 4 hours ago, Jerseys4Hope said: I am gonna do my best. We have family in Greenwood just south of Indy so it wouldn't be super far away. Welcome! Greenwood is a nice area and once they finish the construction on 69 it will be a quick trip down to Bloomington! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseys4Hope Posted April 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 40 minutes ago, HoosierMama said: Welcome! Greenwood is a nice area and once they finish the construction on 69 it will be a quick trip down to Bloomington! The street view pictures really don't do it justice according to the family there. It's gonna be a nice freeway. Wish we had more of those in Oregon. One of the reasons I want to move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fundamentals Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 Touched by your story and RTZ’s response. All the best to you, and welcome to HSN! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fundamentals Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 RTZ? Please change your pic back, will you? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadToZion Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 4 hours ago, Fundamentals said: RTZ? Please change your pic back, will you? No. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billingsley99 Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. This place is the right place to find a caring community that love Indiana Basketball. We might disagree on a lot of things here but this forum was created by people that not only loved all things Indiana University they loved the rest of us that shared in those passions. This overall is a great group of people (except those few PU guys, as far as PU guys go they are pretty good ones). Hoping that an IU jersey finds its way to you very soon. Thank you for joining us and helping us to understand some of the things that you are encountering. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rico Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 Welcome aboard @Jerseys4Hope! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13th&Jackson Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 Jerseys4Hope: Hope I'm not stepping over any boundaries here, but I thought the other members may appreciate hearing even more of your story/background. This is the article about you on ncaa.com from 2017. Welcome to the community. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2017-07-31/college-basketball-super-fan-collects-jerseys-raise-awareness 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billingsley99 Posted April 5, 2022 Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 10 minutes ago, 13th&Jackson said: Jerseys4Hope: Hope I'm not stepping over any boundaries here, but I thought the other members may appreciate hearing even more of your story/background. This is the article about you on ncaa.com from 2017. Welcome to the community. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2017-07-31/college-basketball-super-fan-collects-jerseys-raise-awareness Thanks for sharing this. We just never know what the people we discuss basketball with are dealing with on a daily basis 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseys4Hope Posted April 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2022 Thanks for all the support!! Really enjoying reading y'all's banter and I hope I'll fit in here. My wife might tell me we won't ever be able to afford to move to Indiana but I'm making it a priority. My mother in law who owns our house here had a heart attack but survived and I need to be able to take care of her with both her kids close by instead of just 1 since I'm here all day with her and I live in a 1-bedroom flat that's like walking through a submarine lol. I'm trying to convince her to retire and sell this place. My disability and my wife's income might not be enough yet, but I've told them that I'm gonna find some other source of work if I can keep my brain working during the day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJPaisley Posted April 6, 2022 Report Share Posted April 6, 2022 Until you can make the move, HSN is the best place to be to feel you are a part of the Hoosier Nation. I'm a born and raised Hoosier and an IU grad living in Florida for many yrs. I have been an IU basketball fan since I was a child. HSN is the first place I go to daily to keep up on news about our Hoosiers. Welcome to the HSN family. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoagieRoll Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 On 4/5/2022 at 8:59 AM, RoadToZion said: No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluegrassIU Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 On 4/5/2022 at 7:59 AM, RoadToZion said: No. Please change it to something not political. I tried to PM you to discuss. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadToZion Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 It’s not political. He’s not in office. You guys wouldn’t care if I had a JFK pic. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.