Woods Cross star won't let rare immune disorder keep him down


3 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

WOODS CROSS — Football teaches life lessons to youths that can have a positive impact on future success, whether on or off the field.

Woods Cross star Braxton Gunther has been through a lot the past year, but he's made no excuses — and he won't allow any adversity, no matter how much is thrown at him, to keep him from reaching his goals.

Gunther will miss the Wildcats' game Friday night after suffering a concussion in a 26-6 win over Judge Memorial. In the opening week of the season, he fractured his thumb during a 21-18 loss to Maple Mountain.

But none of those injuries compare to a life-changing diagnosis Gunther received the summer before his junior year.

"Right before my junior year at a BYU football camp, I started feeling pretty sick and went to the hospital," he recalled. " That's when I found out all the stuff going on."

Doctors initially believed Gunther had leukemia because of an abnormal level of white blood cells. After a week of tests, the diagnosis came back. It wasn't cancer — but the moment would change Gunther's life.

"My first thought was 'oh no, I can never play football again,'" he said. "That was pretty devastating.

"The main thing was I couldn't hit or prevent getting sick."

Gunther had Evans syndrome, a rare disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own red blood cells, platelets and certain white blood cells called neutrophils. The disease affects his ability to heal — both from sickness and a collision like any he might get while the two-way starter plays running back and safety.

Photo: Tom Smart, Deseret News
Photo: Tom Smart, Deseret News

Gunther had regular blood infusions to boost his platelet count as a junior. Now a senior, he controls the disorder with medicine that boosts his blood platelet level and helps him get back on the field.

"I think his heart and his work ethic and his drive shows who Braxton is," Woods Cross coach Justin Spencer said. "He never gives up, he competes on every play, and he never wants to come off. We've had to talk him into understanding that he doesn't have to do it all by himself."

After working back from his diagnosis and finally getting to 100 percent in time for the Class 4A state playoffs his junior year, Gunther suffered a devastating leg injury in the semifinals of the state tournament. He broke his femur, tore his medial collateral ligament and was done with any football-related activity for the better part of six months.

"You wonder how much one kid can handle. But it's football, and that happens," said Gunther's father Andy, who also coaches the Wildcats' defensive backs. "Everybody has their challenges in life, and that's just one of his.

"He's a tough kid, worked hard to come back, and I think he's better than ever for it."

The most recent injury made Gunther realize how much he loves football, according to his father. Rather than leave football behind, he's come back in time to start his senior year.

"Football's a hard sport. A lot of kids take the easy way out," Spencer said. "But we have several kids who have faced career-ending injuries, and for the love of the game, they are excited to continue plugging along."

Gunther knows football can be a cruel game at times, gone in a second through injuries, losses or twists of fate.

But the experiences he's had have given the teenager a unique perspective on the game — and life.

"I try to think that I'm super blessed, and maybe it was just a lesson to teach me," he said. "I keep telling my teammates this isn't something that's given to you. You have to earn it. You have to play 100 percent.

"Don't ever take it for granted. It can be gone in a second."

Photos

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

SportsHigh School
Sean Walker

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast