Sports
North Texas Teen Overcomes Life-Threatening Health Issue, Now Breaking Track & Field Records
"I just knew that God had a purpose and I knew that I had to have that surgery for something."
August 13, 2021
A North Texas teen was fighting for his life this time last year. Now he’s breaking records on the track — even making an appearance at a national meet.
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“I was stuck, like, I didn’t know what to do. I just knew that God had a purpose and I knew that I had to have that surgery for something,” 13-year-old Zeke Mankins told CBS 11 News.
The eighth-grader is talking about the open-heart surgery he underwent last year. At the top of 2020, his cardiologist noticed a heart murmur. Test results revealed Zeke’s heart valve was damaged— a medical issue that was life-threatening.
Find out what's happening in Dallasfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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