This past weekend was Region Wrestling at the Events Center in Richfield. I was really worried because the couple weeks before Braxton had been really sick. He first went to the doctor and got cough medicine and antihistamine for his cold. But then the doctor decided that in order to get him better quicker he would put him on a steroid. So he took Prednizone for a few days and the next thing we knew he had a big ball of infection on his neck. It was traveling up his throat and into his ears. So he went back to the doctor and he put him on an antibiotic. That was on Wednesday late and region started early Friday morning. So his coach told me that all he would need to do was to weigh in and then wrestle one match and then he could take an injury and just forfeit all the other matches. I told Braxton to do that. Tevita told Braxton to do that. We both told him that his health was more important and we really needed him to get better! That he would be able to wrestle at State next week so just worry about getting better. Braxton told me, "mom, if I'm gonna wrestle one match then I'm gonna wrestle all matches!" I told him I would support him either way but I really thought he should take the injury on this one. So Friday came and he weighed in at 285 and was able to wrestle. His first match was against Summit Academy, a boy that Braxton hasn't beat yet. I was so nervous!! He was still really sick and not doing too well. So he went out on the mat and as he did he looked up at Tevita and I. We were both wondering what he was going to do. So the match started and Braxton wrestled! He gave it everything he had and he FINALLY beat the Summit Academy kid! He even picked him up and put him on the mat! Oh my gosh, I was so emotional during that match! I was so proud of my son! He gave it 150% and did so well! I was so happy! So as I sat there with tears rolling down my face up to the stands came my son! He got to me, his face bloody and sweating. He gave me a huge hug and then said to me, "Mom, I'm going to pass out." He then went out as I was holding him. Tevita told me to let him go so I did and Tevita held him up on the stairs. We hurried and got a wet towel for his face and he slowly came back to us. We cleaned up his blood, had him breath a little bit, and then with a smile on his face he said, "WE finally beat him!" and gave me and his dad knuckles! Oh my gosh, more tears! I was so happy for my son! So the next day he weighed in at 283. He didn't eat anything except a little cutie, and he took his antibiotics. I didn't think anything about it until after his first match. He wrestled and lost but during the match I could see that he was struggling. After his match he was walking and the next thing I knew I looked over as he was falling to the floor and his coach was trying to hold him up. So I hurried and got to him with a little bit of food and told him to drink and eat. He got a little better and then it was time for his next match. He wrestled and I could tell he was getting dizzy and was struggling. He lost that match and again almost passed out. He called me and said, "mom, I'm done! My body has shut down and will no longer let me wrestle. I'm going to take the forfeit." I told him that I wanted him to think about it and to call his dad. So he did and then he texted me and told me he was going to wrestle. I was proud of his decision to not quit! So he wrestled his last match and unfortunately, he lost. But he didn't just lay down! He gave it everything he had, which at this time, was not very much! He was so weak and was not feeling well at all. We decided that the reason he wasn't feeling too well and the reason he felt dizzy and kept wanting to pass out was because of the antibiotic. We definitely learned our lesson this time! Anyway, Braxton really showed us this weekend that when you really want something, you will do almost anything to do it! He never gave up! He didn't let anything stop him! I think he mentally proved to himself that he can do anything! I love you my son and I am so proud of you! Also, Lia and Sipola had to play their club volleyball on the Saturday of Region wrestling. Their team took the Championship of that tournament! They played so well! They were excited that they beat a team of All Poly girls! Tevita took them up north while I stayed with Brax in Richfield. And Tevon was so excited because he got to be the towel boy at the wrestles. That means that he was the one that got to go hit the ref when the time was up. He loved it!
