Inspiration Point

James Durbin.

You may not know his name.

Yet.

But you will.

Over the next few months, he has a chance to do something only nine others have done before him.

Become an american idol.

Actually, an American Idol.

His powerful voice and magical energy is sure to make him a fan favorite on the most popular show in the country.

He already has my vote.

I have no idea if James has ever met Tim Howard.

Or Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

Or Jim Eisenreich.

I don’t even know if Durbin has heard of them.

And why would he.

They have nothing in common.

Well, almost nothing.

They were each born in different decades.

In different parts of the country.

And they have each lived different lives.

Abdul-Rauf is considered the greatest high school basketball player in Mississippi history.

He averaged 30 points as a freshman at LSU.

An NCAA Record.

Scored 51 points in an NBA game.

Howard is one of the best goalies in the world.

In 2008 he was the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year.

In 2009, this Jersey Boy led his English Premier team to the finals of the FA Cup.

In 2010, Howard was in the nets for the U.S. as they reached the top 16 at the World Cup. 

Eisenreich played 15 years in the major leagues.

A .290 hitter in nearly 4,000 at bats.

His career was capped off by winning a World Series.

Each of these men has reached a level that only few enjoy.

But statistics hardly defined them.

As athletes.

As men.

As role models.

Each has overcome tremendous odds to even make it out of bed each day.

No less what they have accomplished.

And Durbin’s story is no different.

Sure they come from unrelated locations.

But they each live in the same place.

Members of the same club.

A club that only 5-to-10 out every 10,000 people get to join.

Whether they like it or not.

The club is called Tourette’s Syndrome.

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder in which you display unusual movements or make sounds over which you may have little or no control (tics). For instance, you may repeatedly blink your eyes, shrug your shoulders or jerk your head.    (mayoclinic.com)

Jim Eisenreich’s symptoms kicked in at age 6.

Howard was diagnosed in fifth grade.

As a teenager, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had episodes so bad it literally knocked him out.

For James Durbin, he learned of his disease at the age of nine.

In 2008, he told the Santa Cruz Sentinel:

"I'd go to school and all day, I'd try to hold it back and not let it show. But then when I would get home," he makes a gesture to suggest he would engage in a rush of behaviors to "let it all out."

While the others found their safe place on a field.

For Durbin, it was the stage.

Where he has been performing since he was diagnosed.

Playing a variety of roles in a variety of local theaters.

But there is nothing local about American Idol.

Each week, tens of millions of fans are glued to the set to see the next big thing.

And the next big thing could be Durbin.

Not only does he have a chance to win the contest.

But the 22-year old has a chance to tell his story.

Tell his story to the thousands of kids who are just like him.

Thousands of kids who can’t see tomorrow.

Thousands of kids who are ready to give up.

A few years ago we got a call from a friend.

A close friend, whose son had just been diagnosed with Tourette’s.

Our friend knew very little about the disease.

And certainly had no idea where to turn.

So I told her the story of Jim Eisenreich.

That was the only story I knew.

For at least that moment that gave her great comfort.

And helped her realize that her son’s disease was not a death sentence.

Far from it.

I have no idea where James Durbin’s story will take him.

But he has a chance to be an American Idol.

Even if he doesn't win the contest.