A few weeks ago, I wrote about the frightening childhood illness that helped shape Chiefs running back Charcandrick West into one of the most exuberant and appreciative people you’ll ever meet.
That led to some e-mail correspondence with the Shriners Hospital for Children — Shreveport, where Dr. Thomas Pressly diagnosed West with systemic juvenile arthritis and rescued him at 14 years old from hopeless weeks of the unknown while being virtually unable to move without suffering acute pain.
The grateful West has made it a point to give back and lend his support to the Arthritis Foundation in numerous ways, including last summer taking part in a video (“Body of Steel”) with 10-year-old Kansas Citian Jillian Reid to help raise awareness and funds.