Austin Spencer has returned to Tri-Valley High School after a year-long battle with a rare disease, while his basketball coach Jon Nelson calls him an inspiration. (Photo by Eric Stock/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

DOWNS – A Tri-Valley senior has been through a lot in the last year – and his story has inspired others.  

Lighting struck twice for the Spencer family. Austin was diagnosed with a rare immune deficiency disorder called HLH (Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis) and XLP 2 (X-linked lymphoproliferative disease) when he was 16, the same illness his 14-year -old brother Mason is battling.

After undergoing chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant and spending nearly a year at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, 18-year-old Austin has returned to school with a near clean bill of health.

"I actually did a lot better than was expected and was able to completely pretty much overcome it," Spencer said. "I'm almost completely health now."

In fact, he's even returned to the basketball team, to the amazement of his coach Jon Nelson.

"Our job was to support him through that process but at the same time telling ourselves is this really possible," Nelson said. "I have to give him a lot of credit. I never saw a kid work to get through something like her did. His perseverance is amazing."

There are believed to be two of only about 50 people in the world afflicted with the deadly disease.

"It was very scary knowing the statistics of bone marrow transplants and the survival rates and everything that goes on with it, like with the complications my brother is having and other people have had," Spencer said.

Austin plans to attend Illinois State in the fall, where he will study biology. He goes back to Ohio every three weeks for more treatments and to see the rest of his family as his brother Mason is still being treated there.

The Illinois High School Association is nominating Spencer for the National Federation of State High School Associations Spirit of Sport award.

"I hope some people care hear about my story and get motivation from it and realize there's more to live than sports and you need to never take anything for granted." Spencer said.

The family has set up a website to help pay for the family's medical bills through the Children's Organ Transplant Association at www.COTAforTeamSpencer.com.

PODCAST: Listen to Austin and coach Nelson's interview on WJBC.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].