Lakewood resident Curtis Chance, 42, was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth. Doctors did not give him an optimistic prognosis.
“When he was born, we were told he would never be able to sit up,” said Darlene Tarlton, Chance’s mother. “We were told he would be a nonfunctioning infant.”
Not only did Chance prove his doctors wrong – by functioning – he is now a multi-sport athlete with the Special Olympics, which held a 1,200-athlete event Saturday, Aug. 12, in Lakewood, where the Developmental Disability Resource Center Sluggers — Chance’s team — played softball.
“It’s an incredible organization,” Tarlton said. “They give these young people such tremendous pride in themselves. It shows them what they’re capable of, instead of them feeling like they can’t do certain things.”
Chance has proven his abilities, despite the harsh diagnosis he received at birth. He has gone on to hold a job at the Lakewood Hamburger Stand and excel in the Special Olympics winter games, particularly skiing.
Chance’s success in the winter games likely is influenced by another Lakewood resident, Mike Mills.
Mills is Chance’s unified partner, a concept implemented by the Special Olympics in which mentors participate in the games with the athletes.
“They’re like a couple of brothers,” Tarlton said of Mills and Chance. “Michael will push him to better himself. He won’t let him take the easy way out.”
Mills’ involvement with the Special Olympics is extensive. However, he said he does not view his friendship with Chance — which manifests itself outside the games — as volunteering.
“We’re friends, and that’s all there is to it,” said Mills, 50, a financial adviser. “People talk about volunteering. I don’t look at it that way. This is my recreation out here.”
“Out here” was the Shaefer Athletic Complex, where Mills and Chance both did their thing Saturday.
Although Mills protested two of the other teams’ partners batting consecutively — a violation of the rotation rules — he said the Sluggers enjoyed the game. They lost 10-5, but in the spirit of the games Mills tried to put a positive spin on the disappointment, which clearly affected a few of the athletes.
“You learn more from losing than winning,” Mills said. “We win a lot, so I think it’s good for us to lose now and then.”