Heart of a Giant

Bennett Mirz has been nominated for USA Football's Heart of a Giant Award. Though he has been diagnosed with epilepsy, Mirz perseveres and exhibits the qualities of commitment, character, teamwork, dedication and will that embody this prestigious award.

A senior at Lenape Valley Regional High School, Mirz was diagnosed in April.

”It has changed my life forever,” he said. “I no longer take anything for granted. Everything has changed , career plans etc..”

Mirz is taking things day by day and working with his doctors to figure out what will be best for him both medically and emotionally. School is a challenge for him.

“Every seizure seems to have an effect on me and it takes me a while to get back on track,” he said.

Football is Mirz's passion and favorite sport.

“I love everything about it: the ins and outs,” he said. “I have never had an episode on the field. Thank god. I feel confident that the school nurse/trainer can help me if I ever do have a seizure on the field, but I feel great and I’m ready to play.”

Lenape Coach Don Smolyn nominated Mirz for Heart of a Giant.

“This is a tremendous honor for me to be nominated for this award,” Mirz said. “I have been playing football every single year for the Lenape Valley Patriots since I was five years old. I watched both of my brothers play before me and I could not wait to go through the younger levels and get to high school and play under Coach Smolyn. He is more than a Coach: he is a father figure and mentor, and it has been an honor and a privilege to play under him. If I am lucky enough to win the award it will be presented at a home game in December.”

The USA Football’s Heart of a Giant Award program, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Giants, aims to recognize Tri-state area high school football players who demonstrate unparalleled work ethic and a passion for the game. Smolyn feels Mirz is worthy.

“The Heart of a Giant Award is for a player for is working through a difficult individual challenge,” he said. “Bennett was diagnosed last spring with epilepsy during his preparation for the upcoming season. For anyone a diagnosis of epilepsy is traumatic, for the a high school athlete this is especially hard. As a coaching staff we have watched him deal with this through the season, it hasn't always been easy though and we have admired how he has dealt with this.”

Smolyn said the disease is very unpredictable.

“I believe that you just 'manage' epilepsy,” he said. “You don't know when it's going to rear it's ugly head, this is something he deals with every day whether it's on the playing field, in the classroom, or just in public. It's a challenge that few of us understand. A child's path through life is seldom straight or without challenge. Bennett's strong family support system, his teammates, coaching staff, and his strong will and fight will get him through this.”

Smolyn explained that the Heart of a Giant award presents winners each week of the season. The community needs to vote for him.

Once he graduates from Lenape Valley, Mirz said he had orginally planned to go into Local Union 638 to become a fourth generation Steamfitter to follow in his grandfather's, father's and mother's family footsteps.

“Since my diagnosis, I am not sure that is going to be possible so I am still thinking about possible paths,” he said.

Mirz has a drug-resistant form of epilepsy which means that normal epilepsy medications are not working.

“I am having breakthrough seizures so we are still testing out different therapies to find something that works,” he said. “My family and friends have been very supportive.

According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy can affect anyone with a brain and is the most common serous brain disorder worldwide with no age, racial, social class, national or geographic boundaries.

Members of the community, teammates and classmates can all vote for Mirz athttps://usafootball.com/programs/recognition-awards/heartofagiant/ scroll down until you see Bennett Mirz' name and cast your vote.