RUSSELL QUALLS , MY SUPER HERO

- July 02, 2021

My grandson Russell Qualls was born with spina bifida. What Russell lacks in physical ability is made up by the heart of a champion. If every athlete had the heart of this little boy they would all be superstars. He always has a smile on his face. When he first started playing baseball at the age of 3, he would have to bat using his walker, and he couldn't hit a pitch thrown by the coach. Now he can hit the pitches standing on his own without any support, other than his braces. After swinging sometimes, he loses his balance and falls but he gets right back up. He has hit some pretty solid hits and is a good hitter. When he used to walk the bases with his walker, and later, with the help of the coach, it was a tremendous struggle for him. I have seen sweat rolling off of his face caused by his effort but his smile never diminished. So many times I have fought back tears because of the love and pride that I feel for this little boy. He has also made some amazing catches and thrown people out on key plays. Russell is not afraid of the ball. All of the coaches that he has ever had have loved him and bent over backwards for him. Russell won player of the year for the Town of Smyrna Tennessee and was given the trophy at a banquet that was hosted by the Mayor of Smyrna, Mary Esther Reed and members of the town council.

Russell at bat

His perpetual smile

He loved his picture

Russell and I in 2017

Russell with Smyrna mayor Mary Esther Reed

We have become good buddies playing ball together over the years and going to historical sites together. Russell loves history as much as I do. He always loved to look at my military pictures and movies of me when I was in the Air Force. He would come up to me and say Pa, can I see your pictures when you were a soldier? I had to show him just about every one of my Civil War relics when he lived with us for a while. He usually asks a million questions and is very smart. Since the day he was born I have believed all along that he will walk one day without falling. He will probably always have to use his braces though. I see evidence that my dream is coming true everyday. He is now going on 10 and the Covid is keeping him from doing what he loves best, which is playing ball, or some other kind of sport. Before Covid he was playing wheel chair basketball, baseball, sled hockey, and participated in a special olympics. He is so smart I believe that one day he could easily be a coach. Just before Covid he was invited by the Nashville Predators to be on the ice with them during the National Anthem, and to be a participant in their annual fashion show where a player would escort him out on the stage. Unfortunately this was cancelled due to Covid but the players sent him an autographed jersey. Russell is a special person and my hero.

Russell on the ice with the Nashville Predators during the National Anthem

I originally wrote this story almost a year ago, on August 8, 2020 and I just want to update Russell's status. He is now 10 years old and just a few days ago had corrective surgery on his spine. They placed a rod in his back and were able to straighten his shoulders and hips. They were only able to straighten his spine to about 40% of what it should be but that is tremendous improvement. The surgery was very lengthy and painful. Russell did well but he had to have 3 blood transfusions and plasma in order to stabilize him but as I understand it this is standard procedure for this operation. Before the operation he was playing baseball again, along with wheelchair basketball, and special olympics since many of the Covid restrictions have been lifted. He will be rehabilitating for a year but his baseball coaches want him to help them coach while he is recuperating. Russell will probably have to learn to walk again due to the changes in his body but my Russell will be able to overcome most obstacles because he is a fighter and a trooper.

Just after coming out of surgery

Feeling better

Before the surgery

After the surgery

On July 4, 2021

Before surgery & after stitches were taken out

Russells after surgery and before surgery Xrays

We were in Birmingham this past Saturday 3-5-22 at Russells wheelchair basketball game. Russell is now 11 and he plays for the Music City Thunder. As I said Russell loves history and after the game I took him to Kelly Ingram park to see where the Children's march happened in 1963. A music video called "Hope Of Alabama was being filmed on the steps of the famous 16th Avenue Baptist church. The director and Nick Sellers, the CEO of World Games saw Russell as we walked past the church. Sellers and several other people approached Russell asking him to be part of their music video. The video was sponsored by the World Games. Russell is shy and after much coaxing agreed to take part. During the video he led a group of singers over to the main group and he was placed down front right beside Nick Sellers. Nick was right there talking to him as the video was being filmed. This video will be released just before the Grammy's in April and will feature the group Alabama, Sara Evans, Jamey Johnson, Nelly, Taylor Hicks, Reuben Stoddard, Bo Bice and many more.