Amazing Grace

In life we connect in ways we couldn't ever predict. We get inspired if we just open our ears to hear! I took a picture of a young man I didn't know and the next thing I knew, I was inspired. People told me this young man has a story. He sure does. I was honored to get to know him a little more and tell a little bit of his story here.

Getting to play Amazing Grace on the fiddle with Charlie Daniels would be a great accomplishment for a young violinist growing up way out in the country of northwest Pennsylvania. But for Teddy Muir, a 2020 Titusville graduate its not even close to his greatest achievement. Even graduating high school on time with his class was just another thing he did. What Teddy can really hang that brown tasseled mortar board on is that, after seven years, a bunch of surgeries, chemo, radiation, over 50 transfusion's that consumed his teen years, his doctor said he was cancer free.

"I did it!" Teddy yelled to one of his teachers after getting his diploma. That is the moment caught in the above photo from last week.

After posting this photograph to social media and its appearance in The Titusville Herald, messages  about this young man started pouring in.

"The young man captured so jubilantly is a cancer survivor. This community rallied behind him several years ago. What a celebration for his family;"
" He has an amazing story. His Father & I are so blessed;"
"Teddy! You worked so hard for this;"
"Teddy is a pretty amazing person."

As a sixth-grader Teddy returned home from a state wrestling tournament and wasn't feeling well.  He did ok at the tournament winning two of his four matches. He loved to wrestle. He didn't know that would be the last time he set foot on a mat.
His folks took him to the doctor and It was discovered he had two tumors on his brain. A very aggressive cancer called Pineoblastoma. The cancer begins in the cells of the brain's pineal gland, located in the center of the brain. The gland produces a melatonin. It can be very difficult to treat, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The National Institute of Health estimates only about a 10% survival rate after five years.

Teddy has more than surpassed that.

"I did amazing in school," Teddy said though he admitted a couple of C's. Now he has plans to be an electrical engineer by going to trade school in Pittsburgh. The virus has perhaps pushed his plans back, but he said he fears nothing now, so he'll get to when he can.

I love my job!

Eight & 322 is an online publication focused on telling stories of the communities in the northwest region of Pennsylvania. To subscribe to the free Sunday Edition newsletter, email richardsayerphotography@gmail.com.