October 6, 2008 1:29 PM
Coach Gene Stallings on the death of his son with Down syndrome
Lisa sent me to Focus on the Family to hear last week's radio broadcast with Gene Stallings, who recently lost his son Johnny, his beloved son with Down syndrome.
Get out your handkerchiefs, then go here to hear this sweet interview.
In addition to being father of Johnny, Gene Stallings is a famous football coach:
Gene Stallings is a former college and professional football coach. He served as the head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, the Texas A&M Aggies and the St. Louis Cardinals. Stallings was also an assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons. During his distinguished sports career, he garnered numerous coaching awards and was inducted into several sports halls of fame. Stallings is also author of the book Another Season which describes his love for his son, John Mark ("Johnny"), who was born with Down syndrome.
But to hear him talk, Coach Stallings sees his son's life as more important as his own.
Posted in Down syndrome | Permalink
Comments
I have his book. So sorry to hear this.
Posted by: Julana | October 6, 2008 5:03 PM
That is a tearjerker.
Posted by: Julana | October 6, 2008 5:34 PM
I knew a woman with a very large family. (Let's say more than 6 kids, to protect her privacy.) Her youngest child was born with Down syndrome.
This woman once said to me, "Don't tell the other kids, but this last one was my reward for raising the others."
Posted by: Christina | October 6, 2008 6:13 PM
I'm struck by how many people people I've known who have named their sons with DS "John" ~ The Lord is Gracious! How true!
A wonderful listen - thank you for posting it, Barbara.
Posted by: Kari | October 6, 2008 7:01 PM
Barbara, Thanks for posting this. I did not know that Johnny had passed away. I am so sorry to hear this.
Another Season was the 1st book I read, right after the Down Snydrome New parents guide from the hosp., after my son Christopher was born with DS. Coach Stallings book gave me courage and hope.
Posted by: Sandie | October 20, 2008 7:53 AM
I did not know Coach Stallings or his son...I heard recent Dr. Dobson program in which the Coach told about his son and his son's death..The tears flowed and flowed...My son is 34 and he has Brain Damage/Cerebral Palsy...He has a very good memory also...He loves sports and I could see similarities between Johnny and my son...It would have been so much easier I believe, if my son's dad had not been so embarrassed by his son's disability and could have seen how special his son was from the beginning...Rene
Posted by: Irene | August 23, 2010 5:23 AM
