Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002 | 9:34 a.m.
As the starting tailback for the University of Toledo's football team, William Bratton takes his share of hard hits. But the senior from Lima, Ohio, who enters Saturday's game against UNLV averaging almost 100 yards per game, isn't complaining.
"Football is easy," the 5-foot-8, 225-pound Bratton says. "I don't worry about getting hit because I deliver the hit."
But dealing with sickle thalassemia, which the muscular Bratton was diagnosed with as a young child, is another matter.
On an average of two to three times a year, Bratton is rushed to the hospital for treatment to help curtail the painful effects of the blood disorder. That treatment usually includes a morphine shot to lessen severe pain.
"They also give you bags of fluid to help hydrate you," Bratton said. "The morphine helps with the pain for maybe five minutes but it usually takes about a week before the pain goes away. I'm lucky if I can get an hour of sleep a night."
The blood disorder stems from defects in two genes, one that causes sickle cell disease and a second that causes thalassemia. Irregularly shaped red blood cells block blood flow and the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells also is inhibited. It causes fatigue and also puts limits on a person's endurance.
The average life expectancy for African-Americans with sickle thalassemia is mid-40s according to most medical experts.
"I first found out about it when I was eight years old," Bratton said. "I was playing midget league football then. My joints were always hurting and I was constantly crying and stuff. My parents took me in for a blood test and they discovered it."
Just how bad is the pain?
"You know how it feels when you sprain your ankle real bad and the pain you get when you step down on it?" Bratton said. "Imagine your whole body feeling like that for about a week.
"It's a chronic pain for 24 hours a day. My body hurts so bad that it can be unbearable. It usually starts in my back and then spreads to my arms and legs. When I was kid I cried all the time. Now I just kind of hold my breath until the pain goes away."
It could be worse.
"The difference between having sickle thalassemia and full blown sickle cell is that I get my attacks maybe two or three times a year while they get them two or three times a week," Bratton said.
Bratton should know. Both of his parents as well as three of his brothers are afflicted with sickle cell disease.
Bratton, who says he has bench-pressed 460 pounds, has learned to live with his disorder.
"A big key is keeping your body hydrated and getting plenty of sleep and rest," he said. "I usually have my biggest attacks in the spring when I'm doing conditioning to get ready for football. During football season it hasn't been a problem yet this year. I get tired quicker than a normal person, so I usually take myself out when I start feeling tired."
Because of the illness, Bratton usually is limited to about 15 carries per game. Still, that hasn't kept him from being a key player for the Rockets.
In last week's 31-21 loss at Minnesota, Bratton carried 16 times for 114 yards and scored all three of his team's touchdowns. He ranks 17th in the nation in scoring with an average of 10.0 points per game.
"We have to be smart and record the number of carries he gets," Toledo coach Tom Amstutz said. "If we look at his face and see he's in pain, we'll shut him down."
"I can't really imagine what he goes through," Rockets wide receiver Donta Greene told the Toledo Blade recently. "I just know he's one tough guy. He's out there battling every day and running the ball very hard. It makes you really respect him for what he's doing."
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