Alison Chastain
Feature Paper: Final Draft
Paul Mielke
A devastating illness left this courageous Texan teenager wondering if the sport he once starred in was lost to him forever. Until, his favorite quarterback gives back to this big time Baylor fan the joy of playing football. A few years ago, Paul Mielke was the fastest player and the star quarterback of the Katy, Texas Youth Football League.
“I knew I wanted to play professional football from a young age,” Paul said.
Growing up in a family full of Baylor University alumni, Paul dreamed to one day become a Baylor Bear and play quarterback for the well-known football team just like his hero, Robert Griffin III. However, life for the 13-year-old aspiring athlete wasn’t going as planned. Paul’s decreasing health was relevant when the once active teenager became weak and exhausted.
In July 2011, Paul was hospitalized and diagnosed with a life threatening heart condition known as Coronary Artery Disease.
“It was really hard accepting that I will never be just an average kid again like my friends and because of this disease I’m always going to be different,” Paul said.
For the talented athlete, the news that he wouldn’t be able to play football this coming season was the hardest part.
This was just the start of Paul’s long battle. In October 2011, doctors informed Paul that the only way of surviving his stage of heart failure was to receive a heart transplant.
Around the same time, a dual-threat quarterback named Robert Griffin III was rewriting the record books and leading the Baylor Bears to record-setting wins. He was also developing a devoted fan in Houston, Texas.
“When I played football, I was a really hard worker that just wanted to win and never celebrated or bragged about anything,” Paul said. “What I admire most about Robert Griffin is how he approaches football the same way and how classy he is on and off the field.”
Griffin’s hard-work and humble attitude led him to become the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner and an eventual first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. As Griffin piled up national fame, Paul was facing more setbacks.
When Paul was in need of a new heart, no living donors were found to be a perfect match. He had to wait in the hospital until doctors found a heart and could perform the transplant.
Paul missed his bed at home, his friends at school and spending time with his family outside his hospital room, but most of all, he missed football. For the time being, Paul’s involvement in football has been regulated to watching Griffin.
“It’s really frustrating to hear I can’t play contact sports,” Paul said. “I just miss football so much.”
Little did Paul know, a doctor at the Texas Children’s Hospital had somehow contacted Griffin and informed the star quarterback of his most dedicated fan.
When Paul thought it was just another day in the hospital, he was shocked when his doctor handed him the phone and Robert Griffin asked Paul if he could come hang out at the hospital.
“I didn’t think it was really him and I kept making everyone reassure me this wasn’t some kind of a really mean joke,” Paul said.
In late January, Griffin arrived at the Texas Children’s Hospital ready to spend the entire day with Paul and his family. Unfortunately, Paul was unable to leave the hospital for health issues, but that didn’t stop them from having fun.
The two athletes spent the day talking about football and playing video games that made their competitive spirits come out.
“It was great because he didn’t treat me like I was sick kid or just let me win because he felt for me,” Paul said.
Paul was able to tease the quarterback for wearing Superman themed socks underneath his nice pants at the Heisman Awards. However, the best part of their day was receiving special permission from the hospital staff to throw the football to each other in the hallway.
In addition, Paul received Griffin’s personal Baylor Bears jersey and a football signed by the entire 2011-2012 Baylor football team.
“I didn’t want any freebees or anything from him,” Paul said. “I just wanted to spend time with Robert and talk to him as a football player, which is exactly what he gave me. The day was perfect.”
Paul hopes Griffin’s strong finish last season will lock him in as a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Griffin brought joy and laughter to Paul and his family, the hospital staff and even the other sick children. He also provided the encouragement Paul needed to regain strength and hope for his future.
Shortly after the memorable visit, Paul was notified that doctors had finally found a new heart matching his specific requirements. Then in mid-February, Paul received a successful heart transplant.
Through time, Paul has continued to grow stronger and has learned to accept his new lifestyle.
As for Paul’s future, he knows he probably won’t get back to being the star quarterback or ever become Baylor’s next Robert Griffin III. However, that doesn’t stop Paul from setting goals and working hard to achieve them.
“You can’t ever give up or feel sorry for yourself,” Paul said. “Even on my bad days, I tell myself I can do anything through Christ that strengthens me, which is exactly what Robert told me to do.”