Taylor Brown has had a lot of breaks in his short life--19 of them, to be exact.

When the recent Kimball High graduate was in the fifth grade, he signed up to play on a tackle football team. After just two games he suffered a broken knee, putting him on crutches for almost a year. Since then he has experienced two more breaks to the knee, a shattered kneecap, broken arms, torn tendons and about any other injury one might imagine.

I sat down with Taylor and his parents, Jerry and Shelly Brown, in their living room and visited about the problems he battled as he tried to play the sports he loves.

Why all the injuries? Taylor was diagnosed with ostogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder causing bones to snap easily--so easily, in fact, that anyone with this might break a rib simply by coughing.

His mother explains that when Taylor was in the eighth grade, she noticed he was becoming lethargic. “He didn’t sleep well, didn’t eat well,” she says. “He would turn very pale when he exerted. We also noticed he didn’t close his mouth right.

“His health was deteriorating.”

Shelly’s sister in Fort Collins, Colorado, convinced the family to bring Taylor to a specialist in that city. The specialist suspected the problem was related to OI and recommended they see another doctor, this time in California. This was in August of 2008.

“His jaw was growing back and cutting off his airway,” Shelly recalls. “He needed surgery to correct this and it took a year to get ready.”

In his sophomore year at Kimball High, Taylor broke his pelvis during basketball practice, which needed surgical repair. He healed up bound and determined to play hoops again.

Football is his first love, though, and he played his Freshman year. After that, he settled for a sideline role, helping the team as student manager and videotaping all games.

Because of injuries he missed out on most grade school sports. He did, however, play junior high basketball and parts of all for seasons on the high school squad. He started as an upperclassman and was instrumental in the team’s drive to the state tournament his senior season.

Despite the risks, he was willing to take a charge in the paint, setting the team record. Then as now, he showed a high tolerance for pain.

Of course, it had to be frightening for his parents each time he stood his ground as larger opponents crashed over him.

In November of his senior year, Taylor fell while playing basketball and hurt his wrist. It was broken, but he kept the injury to himself and finished out the season.

I noticed that the wrist is still in a cast. By playing hurt, the fracture expanded--wearing away bone as he toiled up and down the court. Doctors say it will take a long time to heal.

Taylor also wears a hospital boot on one foot after tearing ligaments during a recent open gym session.

Just another bad break for the personable young man who never complains.

The osteogenesis imperfect is still taking a toll on Taylor’s wishes, as he was turned down by the military. Now he hopes to attend school at Western Nebraska Community College and possibly pursue a career in power line construction.

There is no challenge too big for the young man forced to sleep for months in a recliner chair after surgery in California.

“It was a financial drain on us, as well,” Jerry points out. “But we wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever.”

The oral maxillofacial surgery, by the way, was life threatening in Taylor’s case.

Not so long ago, parents of children with OI were advised to protect their kids by carrying them on pillows and keeping them from recreational sports. But this may have hindered development, achievement and independence. Over the years, it has become clear that physical activity is an important part of managing the disease.

Taylor has a tough road ahead, but he never complains and never uses his illness as an excuse. After all, he’s the guy who steps in to take the charge.

“I used to sit in the stands with the other parents, and when I would hear them complain about the way their kid was playing, I would simply say ‘I am just glad that my kid is able to play,’” Jerry says.

Taylor Brown’s story is about as inspirational as it gets.

And if you spot Taylor playing ball on a local court and notice a new cast, think nothing of it.

It’s just one of the breaks.