photo by: Lauren Fox
Michael Freeland Jr., who has a rare form of primary lymphedema called Milroy's disease, is pictured with his pneumatic compression pump on Oct. 30.
Wearing shorts in front of a crowd was a big victory for the Topeka teenager with the rare disease.
Michael Freeland Jr. had always covered his enlarged left leg with oversized pants, but on that day in eighth grade he wore track shorts. It was a huge moment for him, Freeland, now 49, remembered.
The meet was special because it was at Highland Park High School, the school Freeland would attend the next year, and it was the last race of the middle school track season. Freeland had tried and failed at other sports, but he had stuck with track — despite the fact that he had been denied an opportunity to race all season.