By Susan Tolley

Staff reporter

Dean Branch, 38, the son of Joann and J.W. Branch from Dobson, gives new meaning to the word, “special.”

When he was a year old, he developed croup and had to have a trach put in his windpipe to open up his airway. The procedure saved his life but he later developed Subglottic stenosis, which is airway obstruction usually caused by intubation (which is the introduction of a tube into a hollow organ (as the trachea) to keep it open.)

In all, Branch has undergone more than 100 surgeries with specialists all over the eastern U.S.. He’s been hospitalized over 115 times but, being a true survivor and growing up with active and supportive brother,s Sonny and Dewayne, he puts his heart and soul into everything he’s done.

“Dean has this ‘never say no’ attitude. His philosophy is ‘I’m going to do this,’” said his mother, Joann Branch. “He had surgery to open up his airway just three days ago and his greatest concern was possibly not being here to compete today.

“He’s always had such a positive attitude, especially since he joined the gym (Figures Fitness in Dobson),” she said. “We’ve seen his health improve. He just has such a love of life, especially with sports.”

Branch is 38-years-old and has competed in the Special Olympics for 20 years. His mother has coached his Special Olympics bowling team for 19 years. Today, like most others, Branch wore the brightest of smiles went at it with gusto as he competed in the softball throw and the 50-meter walk.

He was just one several hundred hundred athletes, coaches, students and other volunteers Friday at the 31st Annual Spring Games for Special Olympics of Surry County. The event, hosted by East Surry High School, took place at the Armfield Civic Center in Pilot Mountain.

It was a panoply of color. Bright green, orange, lavender, sky blue and vivid red; these colors could be seen everywhere on the T-shirts of all involved. Each color worn designated the type of participant at the event, for example: high school students wore bright green.

As it was East Surry High School the host, for the 2008 – 09 event, the school showed its support with 368 “buddies” volunteering from the school.

It’s a whole school effort – the host school provides volunteers and this year, the students came up with the idea of raising money by bidding on the color of shirt they wanted the buddy shirts to be,” said Millie Hiatt, Surry County Parks and Recreation supervisor and local coordinator for the event. “They put out jars with different colors on them, so kids could drop money in, casting their vote for a specific color.”

Opening ceremonies kicked off around 10 a.m. and were held at the amphitheater with Tony Hall, principal of East Surry High School welcoming everyone. Then the games began.

In all, 329 athletes, 151 coaches, 368 high school volunteers and countless spectators, officials deemed this a true success for all involved.

“We’re so happy with the weather and the support. But, we want folks to remember that it’s not just this one-day event. Yes, we certainly set aside this day to celebrate the Special Olympic athletes and other participants but we are involved with Special Olympics year ‘round. It means so much to them to have us take time to be with them,” said Hiatt.

Competition

categories

Participants ages 8 and up entered three categories: Developmental - 10m wheelchair, 25m walk, 25, assisted walk and tennis ball throw, Lead-up – 50m walk or run, softball throw and standing long jump, Traditional – 100m dash/run, running long jump. All Special Olympics athletes are winners; however, interested athletes are randomly selected to further compete in regional, state, and then national competitions. Participants from age 2 – 7 were assigned a buddy to swing, take a walk and enjoy the festivities.