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Life After Sport: A Runner Hits the Track Toward New Goals
by Kate Prichard & Elizabeth Head
Next stop - graduate school
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He's graduating from Mars Hill College this May after only three years and almost always has an upbeat and cheerful attitude. He helps teach a Behavioral Science Statistics class here on campus, and an Introduction to Sociology or Sociology and Family class when needed. He is a member of the cross country team and is even currently dating Miss Asheville.
When meeting Carson Byrd for the first time, it would be impossible to guess that his brief, but successful college career has been filled with such loss, grief, and literal heartache.
When Byrd came from Galax Virginia to Mars Hill College as a freshman in August of 2002, he met his new cross country teammates and thought his college career couldn't help but be great.
But after a mere two months on The Hill, Byrd's mom called him, worried. She said that his friend, Brandon, from home had gone missing over the weekend. She called again the next day and told Byrd the terrible news: Brandon had been murdered on his 18th birthday and his truck had been pushed into the river.
After that, Byrd said, nothing was quite the same anymore. "My perfect little bubble had just been officially popped."
Unfortunately, this wasn't the only tragedy Byrd was forced to face. Over spring break of his freshman year, Byrd and the track team went to Disney World for the Disney Relays. Byrd got word that his best friend from home, Ben, had lost his grandfather over the weekend. Byrd, who was close with the entire family, really felt this loss. He wanted to call Ben, but didn't get the chance. Two days later, Ben's father, who was also like a father to Byrd, took his own life, as a result of various problems he was dealing with. Needless to say, Byrd was absolutely devastated.
But that wasn't all. When Byrd was a sophomore, he had another huge loss to suffer. In November of 2003, his roommate and fellow runner, Bobby Beeson committed suicide. It was a tremendously painful burden for Byrd to bear. He had to gently ease back into life and still is reminded of Bobby all the time, whether it is from a song, something Bobby used to do, anything at all. The losses of all of these loved ones left deep scars on Byrd, but he kept pushing through life, dealing with it any way he could.
Almost exactly a year after Bobby's unexpected death, Byrd discovered yet another piece of information that would completely change his world. The Monday following the Conference Cross Country meet, Byrd was sitting upstairs in his teammates' townhouse, the infamous "TH 201", when the left side of this chest began to hurt. Then his left arm began to hurt. Not long after, his arm went numb.
Teammate Jon Stoehr rushed him to Mission St. Joseph's, where he had an "MRI." Magnetic resonance imaging provides a three-dimensional image of the heart and can be used by doctors to assess the risk of a heart attack.
When the results came back, Byrd learned that he had a heart abnormality. Between the two atriums of his heart, two flaps overlap instead of forming a wall. When he exercises, pressure builds and blood gets pushed between the flaps from the left side to the right. The results also showed that the right side of his heart is enlarged twice the size of a normal heart.
Over Christmas break, his doctors performed a transesophageal echo. In this process, a tube-two inches in diameter-was placed down his throat and into his chest. The procedure was to test what activity was happening with his heart.
It was a risky process; Byrd first had to sign a waiver, agreeing that if his esophagus was ripped, the doctors could perform emergency surgery.
Byrd learned that his heart condition did not develop recently but has been with him since he was born; "it just showed up one day." He says that he sometimes gets worried about his safety. Three people died in his home state of Virginia last year from heart problems while jogging alone. Consequently, Byrd never ventures far from campus when running unless his teammates are with him.
Byrd has seen his share of frustrations. He says he keeps setting goals, but problems just keep coming. "Running used to be my life, what I was known for," he said. "Now I just feel like 'Carson, the guy that walks around.'" He said that he finds it hard to "not be defined as somebody anymore."
Byrd is now focusing on other areas of his life, such as graduate school. He has recently been accepted to Virginia Tech, where he will continue to study sociology.
Byrd's years at Mars Hill have provided him with an extensive education, much of which has taken place outside of the classroom. "When you get to college, God throws the real world at you." He says he is very grateful for his teammates; they let him know somebody is always there. "I was really lucky to have Jon that night; I can really trust him to be steady and comforting." He is also currently dating Nina Gilliam, the latest Miss Asheville, who has provided him with tremendous support.
As a result of all that he has endured, Byrd says that his faith "has been shaken and stirred." He "holds onto St. Christopher," given to him by his godmother for extra protection when he left for college-"and I needed it," he said. Byrd does not necessarily consider himself to be a religious person, but he says he is very spiritual. "I can't quote the Bible or the Ten Commandments, but I can say a prayer."
Another belonging that Byrd always carries with him is a stuffed elephant named Font, given to him by Bobby's older sister at his funeral. The animal has become one of Byrd's fondest companions, and even wears a hospital bracelet on one arm and a "Livestrong" bracelet on the other.
The journey is not over for Byrd. He is currently waiting for an "event monitor" that will allow him to push a button to alert a doctor of any abnormal symptoms.
He has undoubtedly had to grow up faster than others, and learn some difficult lessons. He says that he sees life as a cross country race: you can get bogged down by the mud and the hills, but you know there is eventually a finish line.
"I've been to hell and back, talked to Satan and kicked his butt, and come back up. But I still have a heart. I'm still here."
Reader's Comment from:
Wanda Phillips - ITS Staff, 2/23/2005, 4:56:33 p.m.
Wow! Carson, I realized I wasn't breathing when I read this article. What an inspiration you are to all of us. I feel that God puts people like you on this earth to encourage the rest of us. Hang in there!
Jamie Lynn Ballance Class of 2004, 3/3/2005, 2:13:22 p.m.
Thank you for printing this article. I think articles like Carson's help other students learn that they are not the only ones dealing with personal problems and death. I think an article like this may help others in the future, who may feel depressed because of a loss of a loved one. Maybe they will see from Carson's example that life must go on, and you can still have a heart! Thanks Carson!
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