MEET & GREET! Submit your meet-and-greet stories to [email protected]. They are posted throughout the week.
Marfan syndrome is a disorder of connective tissue, the tissue that strengthens the body’s structures. Disorders of connective tissue affect the skeletal system, cardiovascular system, eyes, and skin, and this is something Austin Carlile and I have in common. After my initial diagnoses when I was 16, I was in a very dark place, and felt very alone. A few months after my diagnoses though, I found myself listening to a ton of Of Mice & Men, not knowing about Austin. I was watching an interview with him, and noticed his scar for the first time, curious as to what it was from, I looked around the internet for a bit. What I found put me in a state of shock. I remember sitting in front of my computer, sobbing. Austin Carlile has Marfan Syndrome. I couldn’t believe it. From then on, I was borderline obsessed with Of Mice & Men, and Austin instantly became a huge role model to me. That summer, I saw that Of Mice & Men were coming through with August Burns Red, I was determined to meet Austin that night. I got in touch with the local venue to try to help me out, then my guitar teacher, who really was the one who helped the most. With his help and a lot of phone calls to a lot of people over a few months, we got OM&Ms tour managers phone number the day before the show. We sat around all day the next day, waiting for him to call us back to give us the okay to meet Austin, about 3 hours before the show, he gave us a call, and told us to be in the alley behind the venue at 6:30. We arrived, and after a while, we see Austin walking towards us. I was in hysterics once he was standing in front of me, all I could manage to say between the tears was “I have Marfans and I need to talk to you”, he pulled me aside, and after we talked and cried together for close to an hour, my perspective on life changed. I had a new hope begin to form inside of me, and that’s something that I still try to hold onto today, regardless of how hopeless I feel in regards to living with Marfan Syndrome and the physical pain and limitations that go with it, especially recently. After meeting him, I don’t feel as alone. This feeling in particular is one that I’ll never be able to describe to anyone, but it is incredibly comforting to be able to see Austin and think “He’s made it that far, so can I”. Looking at this picture reminds me that as long as Austin is okay, I’ll be okay. I love this man, and miss him dearly. I look forward to the day I get to see him again. That was three years ago, and the memory of it and thinking about Austin still helps me get through the hardest, most painful days, and the fact that he still remembers me makes it feel even more special.
