Billy

John and Joey Cappelletti

Two Heroes

Did you know that John Cappelletti was the Heisman Trophy winner during 1973? This report is based on the book Something for Joey and the paper is about why John and his brother Joey are both heroes. John was a sportπs hero and Joey is a hero because he fought cancer throughout his life. These two heroes have courage and stories that you wonπt ever forget. First, I will talk about Johnπs life. Next, I will talk about Joeyπs life. Last, I will talk about both of their accomplishments in life.

John Capelletti was born in Philadephia. He was a middle child in a big family. John loved to play football. John also had a special younger brother named Joey. Joey was special because he had Leukemia. Joey thought that John was a hero. But John thought that Joey was a hero.

When John just started college, he was a defensive back for the Penn State Nittany Lions. The first game they played, they won 31-0, Penn State. Then later on that season, Johnπs brother, Joey, went into a coma. He had chicken pocks and that made him not have enough white blood cells to fight it. About three days later, they found someone to give the correct blood cells Joey needed. He was in the coma for a long time. After that, John got scared one night when he went to get a snack. He ran into his mom in the kitchen and she said, ≥Iπm going to pray that Joey dies.≤

≥Why?≤ asked John.

≥Because we put him through pain by him living.≤ John went to bed after the interesting, sad conversation.

The next morning he saw his mom. ≥So did you?≤

≥Yes, but God stopped me. He said he was going to be all right.≤

Later in the football season, Joey started to move. Slowly he came out of his coma. John told him what he missed and taught him how to walk. It took about five months for him to be able to walk.

John and his team went to the Sugar Bowl. Their season was 10-1. They won the bowl but soon Penn State lost their star running back and there was now an empty spot on the team. John knew it would be a lot of work to replace him but John was a dedicated football player. He did running techniques all the time preparing to be a running back. Once he dedicated himself to the position, he was unstoppable. They said you could hang on Cappelletti but he would run you into the touch down with him. Later on that season, they were still undefeated and they won the Rose Bowl becoming champions. Then John won the Heisman. He was given the trophy and got on the Bob Hope Show. John is still living today at the age of 50.

Now that you have learned about John, let me tell you about Joey, Johnπs little brother. He had Leukemia which is cancer. He had it since he was two. His parents had to make a decision whether to make him be in a leukemia care place or to leave him alone and let nature take its course. They picked to have him in the Leukemia Care Program.

After some of Johnπs football season went by Joey fell into a coma because he didnπt have enough white blood cells to fight the chicken pox. He laid hopelessly for months. Then one day, John saw him move. John was excited. They took him out of the hospital and he learned everything all over again. They let him go to school but not his old one. He had to go to one where kids were trying to bring back their memories and learn how to use their bodies again. Joey was the only one there that regained most of their memory. He wished he would be with his other classmates. Joey always went with John into the locker room before games. Joey was at the games unless they were away. Joey kept everybodyπs stats so Joey knew that John would get the Heisman Trophy.

Joey always wanted to go to Disney World. He asked for a little bit of money from everybody. Eventually, he got enough. It took him 2 months to see everybody in his family. He got to go to Disney World with his mom and dad.

These are Johnπs accomplishments in life. I think John was a hero for five reasons first he was fearless. He got on that field and made other people fearful. He wasnπt afraid of anything. He was also applied. He worked hard in classes. He studied hard when he needed to. Like when there was a test, John started studying for it weeks before never stopping. John started studying for it weeks before never stopping. John was also tireless. For example, he never gave up in the Michigan game where they were down by 33 at the half and came back winning 46-40 . John didnπt give up. He kept on playing. John is humble because when he got the Heisman Trophy he wasnπt doing it for the glory of being famous he did it for his little brother. Every touch down he scored was for Joey not for the Heisman.

Joey was a hero for four reasons. He was fearless when he went to the doctor. He didnπt complain or say it hurt one bit when he had his spinal cord tapped. He has to go through very painful procedures but he was fearless. Joey also worked hard after he was in a coma. He had to study hard to remember what everything meant. Joey also was tireless because when he came out of his coma he had to work constantly to regain memory and physical activities like walking. He learned that pretty quickly because he was tireless and committed. Joey was also humble. He never wanted people to feel badly for him.

As you have read, John and Joey are heroes but for different reasons. You might know that John looks at Joey as a hero but Joey looks at John as a hero too. John was a sports hero for being an example of hard work to others. Joey was a hero for living through a painful time. If you want to know more about John and Joey and what it means to be a hero, visit my website at http://www.coe.ufl.edu/courses/its/sse4312/billypage.htm.