While many spent the holiday season in the comfort of their homes with family and friends, White Hall basketball coach, Marc Stringer spent his in ICU.
Stringer was diagnosed with esophageal cancer at the age of 33 in July of 2016, one year after marrying his wife, Lauren Stringer.
Prior to coaching at White Hall, Marc was a Stuttgart basketball coach.
Many consider Stringer Superman because despite his cancer diagnosis, his strength prevailed during trying times.
However, now Stringer remains in ICU battling a bacterial and fungal infection after he returned from a dream trip to meet Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, a few days before Christmas.
According to his wife, Lauren Coker Stringer, who is also a nurse, Stringer had specifically asked prayers for strength, mental and physical.
“He was starting to require more oxygen than they could administer on the floor and spiked another fever,” said Lauren. “He had a CT done of his chest that showed his pneumonia was much worse than the chest x-ray had shown.”
With all the prayers in rotation, Stuttgart native Jordan Hudson saw that his former coach needed a push.
“I wanted to take the time to hopefully give him a little more hope and push through and to come out of this Stringer Strong,” said Jordan.
Jordan started the Stringer Strong 10 pushup challenge on Facebook.
Between the shares and reposts, the challenge has been viewed collectively over 10,000 times since January 5.
Jordan stated how Coach Stringer still saw hope in him, even though he wasn’t the best basketball player.
“I remember him seeing something in me so hopefully we can see something in Coach Stringer to help him push through,” said Jordan.
Men, women, boys and girls from Arkansas County to the Great White North, came together to give Stringer hope during his fight.
Students, faculty and staff at Park Avenue Elementary, Meekins Middle School, FUMC-Stuttgart, St. John’s Lutheran School, Bright Field Middle School, Stuttgart High School, White Hall High School all the way to West Memphis were just some of the many who have taken on the pushup challenge started by Jordan.
According to the family of Stringer, his health is currently improving and Stringer stated he is going to walk out of that hospital-Stringer Strong!
“We are both so overwhelmed by the amount of support and love we have received,” said Lauren. “Many times walking out into the waiting room I felt the weight of the world but then I would see the faces of so many people I truly love and that weight immediately felt lighter. The “10 pushup challenge” is absolutely awesome and provides such a bright light during our day watching all the videos. “
