Exceptional Honor

By WENDY SLEDD

Special to the Leader-Press

His mother never thought it would happen. But, Devin Mangum kept his eye on his goal - to earn a school letter jacket. The 9th grader became an athletic student manager at Copperas Cove High in August when the school year started. His job is to repair helmets, shoulder pads and help during practices serving as a runner for both coaches and players. Mangum, 15, said he was bullied in junior high school. But in high school, the football team looks out for the exceptional needs student. “Everybody treats me like I am part of the team and treats me like everybody else,” he said. “The football team stands up for me.” Rhonda Mangum, Devin’s mother, said she is grateful to the team. “The football players really look out for him,” she said. “No one is going to bully him.”Devin Mangum was born with half of a heart causing him to have a stroke when he was only four months old. He is afflicted with hypo- plastic left heart syndrome. He had his first surgery when he was five days old. He has gone through five open heart surgeries and six cardiac catheters. Rhonda was told by many doctors that Devin would not survive. “But, that’s not the case with Devin. He is quite the miracle,” Rhonda Mangum said. Devin Mangum traveled this year to all of the freshman games and was present for every practice. “He volunteered to come in and work on a Saturday when they asked for volunteers,” Rhonda Mangum said. “He is dedicated. He was the only one.” That dedication earned Devin Mangum a letter jacket which he ordered in February picking out the patches he wanted on it including his favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:13. “For Devin, his maturity level has sky-rocketed and so has his confidence level since he has been part of this program. I am always telling the coaches ‘thank you for what you have done for Devin.’ He has developed discipline,” Rhonda Mangum said. “Coach (Tony) Jones treats Devin just like the other guys, so I don’t worry about him. He got a clearance from his cardiologist to do this.” The day was finally here. Letter jackets had arrived. But, Devin was told by his mother that he would not be getting one after all. “My mom said she couldn’t buy it because of how much it cost,” Devin Mangum said. “Then, they said, ‘Coach Jones needs to see you.’ I got scared and thought I did something wrong. But, then Coach Jones had my letter jacket. It was perfect.” Despite the 80 degree temperatures this week, Devin Mangum has worn his letter jacket every day. “The lining keeps me cool in the summer and warm in the winter,” he said. “I will wear it every single day.” The jacket, embroidered with Devin’s name, has student manager patches for both football and track. As he slid the jacket on, tears welled up in Rhonda Mangum’s eyes. “I never thought he would get a letter jacket,” she said. “I want him to experience everything he can possibly experience.”