Travis
Munn has signed for East Midlands Counties League club Borrowash Victoria.
Munn
was a full-time professional playing for Boston United, having previously
played for Mansfield Town.
In
2015, after having always been among the fitter players at his club, his
fitness unexpectedly began to decline rapidly.
He
began to experience difficulty breathing, lost weight and his skin began to
tighten causing restricted movement.
His
fingers started going blue and one finger developed an ulcer which became
infected.
As
his symptoms worsened, he was eventually referred to a rheumatologist.
After
a year of uncertainty about what was causing his health to deteriorate, he was
eventually diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, a life-threatening condition
with no known cure.
Whilst
reading up on his condition he came across an article about a marathon runner
who had returned to running following a stem cell transplant.
Recognising
the urgency of having the treatment before the condition took over his body
Travis approached his hospital and after an initial setback it was agreed that
he could undergo tests to see if he could have the treatment without putting
himself in additional danger.
“It
was heart-breaking for my kids to see me that sick,” Munn said in an interview
for scleroderma website SRUK.co.uk “I’d rather go out fighting than not.”
The
treatment was carried out through November and December 2018 with an initial
session of chemotherapy, another hospital visit for the stem cells to be
removed and then he was eventually admitted to hospital for a month for the
stem cell transplant.
“Six
months ago, I was saying goodbye to my wife and kids thinking I might not see
them again,” Munn said when describing what he went through in order to get the
treatment he needed. “The thought of playing again is literally a dream come
true, whether it’s Sunday League or here at Borrowash.
“Thinking
about playing again gave me the strength and determination to get through the
hell I have just been through. Hopefully I can get back up to full speed and
help manager Marc Sargeant get the team where he wants them to be.
“Marc
and his team made me feel really at home and have been really supportive with
my health. Marc’s views and plans for the team are something special, something
I want to be a part of, and my home is literally thirty seconds from the ground,
so it is home to me. I had a few good offers, but I believe this is the best
decision for me and my football”.
Adam
Taylor
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