Our family lived in La Porte, Texas for a few years, from 2000 to 2004. My son was already playing Select baseball at the time. In 2003, the La Porte Highschool Bulldogs had a very strong varsity baseball team.
The anchor of their pitching rotation was a 5'11" righty, named Justin Burney. As a Senior, he had command of all his pitches. He touched 90 with his heater, had a nice changeup and a filthy curve. He was nearly unhittable. That year, he was the District Player of the Year, All-State, and 2 years First Team All-District. He was also a very humble and decent young man. He saw me working with my son one day after his own practice and offered to give John hitting instructions. (Burney was a great hitter too.) My son was 10 at the time. Burney had a great rapport with him. He was very careful not to accept any recompense for his time because he didn't want to violate NCAA rules.
Justin Burney may not remember my son. But, I'll never forget how charitable Justin was with his time.
La Porte was solid in Spring '03. The District Champs, they had a deep staff, including future Texas Aggie Signee Jake Bussey. As the season went on, if the game was at Coach Ricky Torres' home field, the Dawgs put on a show. When Burney pitched, the place was electric. Justin's sister was a sophomore when he was a Senior. She was loud and shrill in the stands, screaming over the crowd in support of her brother. You couldn't help but admire her overt displays of family loyalty. She exalted in his successes. She hurt for him during his struggles (There weren't many).
Krystil also was an anchor on the school softball team. After her days at LPHS, she signed to play at Stephen F. Austin University. She was pretty, but had a toughness about her.
In the time since that great year, so much has happened. Justin is now a pitcher on the Stephen F. Austin baseball team. Krystil is on the softball roster. Yet, the Burney Family has been forced to deal with great adversity. Krystil has been suffering from the onset, recurrences and side effects of Hodgkins Lymphoma since 2005. I have been reading her family's blog regularly for well over a year as she has remained mostly at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
Krystil's unmitigated optimism is the one aspect of her personality that has remained, as her appearance, physical strength and health have ebbed. Her entries on her "Carepages" show that she continues to rely on her sense of humor. She writes often about the many younger kids with whom she endures this cruel condition. Many of these kids have lost the fight since she started writing. Krystil grieves. Sometimes her mom, Edith writes. Edith's faith and reliance on Jesus is always prominent.
This coming weekend is very special for the Burneys because SFA University is having an event called "Goin' to Bat for Burney". Click the following link for more information.
Going to Bat For Burney
Krystil will get to throw out the first pitch at the baseball game, with her brother behind the plate. She'll dress out in her SFA softball uniform. Edith wrote this morning that she hopes her daughter has the strength to endure the day's activities.
I have been a bystander while Krystil has endured so many radiation treatments, chemo and a bone marrow transplant. She has a boyfriend named Jake, also on the baseball team. She maintains big plans for her future. I know her kind and loving brother is praying for her. I pray that her body holds up. Certainly, her irrepressible optimism will never fail her.
