Father-son team overcome cerebral palsy

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Life isn't easy for Johnny Agar.

Cerebral palsy has ravaged his body. Things an able-bodied person takes for granted, like sitting and standing, require a great deal of thought and extraordinary effort.

"With Johnny, everything is a struggle. Everything," said Johnny's mother, Becki Agar. "If I'm having a bad day and I look at him, my day's not as bad as I think it would be or could  be."

But as difficult as it is, Johnny would be the first to say that he leads a great life.

"I'm excited to see what the future holds," said Johnny.

Eighteen years ago, Becki and her husband Jeff were expecting their first child. Becki gave birth to Johnny only 29 weeks into the pregnancy.

Doctors discovered bleeding on Johnny's brain and knew something was horribly wrong.

The diagnosis turned the Agar's world upside down, but it strengthened their faith.

"A lot of people have asked us, 'How do you stay so positive? How do you  stay so strong?' I always say it's our faith. I know that everything that happens -- God has a purpose to everything."

The Agars prayed that someday that plan would be revealed. But never once did they imagine that despite all of Johnny's struggles, Becki would say it has been a blessing.

"I'm so grateful that he has cerebral palsy ," said Becki. "I know that may sound funny. We have learned so much from him and it's a blessing that I would never, ever trade."

To understand the power of Becki's sentiment, you have to know Johnny.

He's a bright, articulate, happy young man. And does he ever have a passion for sports.

"He's a sports fanatic," said his father Jeff. "I'll ask him who guys are that I've never heard of and he'll start naming off stats."

Johnny's dream job is to be a sportscaster.

"I've got to work on my college stuff first, then get that all sorted out, and then we'll see," he said.

Johnny's love for sports was fostered by his father Jeff, who was a Tigers prospect in the 1980s. He was a pitcher with a big-time fastball.

But Johnny's cerebral palsy robbed them of the chance to play baseball -- or any sport -- together.

That is, until they learned of My Team Triumph. They watched father-and-son team of Dick and Rick Hoyt complete some of the most difficult endurance races in the world.

Suddenly, new doors were opened, new adventures were dreamed, and Team Agar was formed.

Team Agar started by competing in some 5k races, and then gradually upped the distance. Now, they compete in triathlons -- and it's quite a sight to see.

Jeff pulls Johnny in a special boat during the swim portion of the race, powers him through the course on a bike, and pushes him to the finish race on the run.

Johnny said he appreciates having his father push him.

"It's really special, because you don't really think of a disabled kid being able to run marathons and do stuff like that," said Johnny.

Sometimes, Johnny urges his father to go faster.

"I'm starting to get my whip out, but I understand it's really difficult," said Johnny. "Just knowing that he's trying so hard to get me through that race, and I try to cheer him on as hard as I can, but sometimes it can be harder for  him than I think it can. So it's really cool."

And Johnny said he's grateful to his father.

"I really like that he's trying to help me through that race, letting me know the feeling of crossing the finish line," he said.

For Jeff, the payoff is the joy Johnny gets on race day.

"Johnny loves  it. He loves it because he puts his arms up and screams and yells and really plays up the crowd," said Jeff. "He's not shy by any means. And it is just a thrill that -- I think back -- I never experienced a thrill like that as much."

Cerebral palsy changed the way that Johnny will live his life. But there's one group of muscles that never fail Johnny -- the ones on his face that are etched in a permanent smile when he competes with his father.

"I'm a competitive person, so the ability to be in the competitive atmosphere that running is, you know, it's really quite cool."