At last weekend’s MSHSAA State Wrestling Championships, Brookfield senior Austin Lindsay found himself in familiar, yet strange territory. Austin was in line to win the 152-pound State Championship, a position he was used to. But with that win, Lindsay would find himself in the unfamiliar territory of joining the 18 other four-time State Champions.
Austin won that final bout by pinfall and came to his feet with both hands raised into the air with four fingers extended. As the announcer told of his honor over the loud speaker, the entire arena came to their feet in honor of this historic accomplishment. This tremendous feat is made all the more spectacular in that it was done by a kid who was once told he wouldn’t walk correctly again.
“Austin had Ledd-Calce-Perthes disease,” related his father Jerry. “We were told Austin wouldn’t be able to walk right. That’s when the Shriners stepped in.” From the National Osteonecrosis Foundation website: Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is a form of osteonecrosis of the hip that is found only in children. It is known by a few other names such as ischemic necrosis of the hip, coxa plana, osteochondritis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Most commonly it is called Legg-Perthes disease, LCPD, or Perthes.
LCPD is of unknown origin. It is known that bone death occurs in the ball of the hip due to an interruption in blood flow. As bone death occurs, the ball develops a fracture of the supporting bone. This fracture signals the beginning of bone reabsorption by the body. As bone is slowly absorbed, it is replaced by new tissue and bone.
“They [the Shriners] cut all of the muscles in his legs and spread his legs so wide in braces that he couldn’t fit through a door without going sideways,” said Jerry. “We decided not to cheat him of his childhood and just let things fall where they may.”
- See today's LCL for the full story
