ATHENS, Ga. -- Shanee was 14 when she fell pregnant with her first baby. A doctor advised her to terminate the pregnancy at six months.
Nancy White, her grandmother, quickly overruled him.
She said, "We are not going to terminate this pregnancy." "No matter what happens to him, he will be born," she said.
Shanee was already feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of having a child in high school and she urged her grandmother not to worry.
Her grandmother said to her, "The doctor isn't God, so he don't have the final say." "If he takes just one breath, he's going take it."
Shanee was born Sept. 18, 1999. He weighed seven pounds and had a cleft palate and lip. After his body temperature plummeted and he couldn't eat, he had to be transferred to Chapel Hill Hospital, North Carolina. Shanee was told by doctors that her son wouldn't live for two more weeks.
Shanee stated, "I was just sitting there looking at him." "I looked at him for a while like, 'What' am I going to do?.
Today, the baby boy who was only two weeks old is the leading rusher for the No. The No. 1 college football team in the nation.
Zamir White survived and has grown to be a five star recruit, a Georgia Bulldogs fan favourite affectionately called "Zeus", and a potential NFL draft pick in 2022. He has also been an inspiration to children born with the same condition.
It wasn't always easy. After three months in hospital, Zamir was able to survive and was able to return home. Nancy White's great-grandson was finally home. Nancy fed Zamir with a medicine dropper so he would stay nourished. Six months old, he had surgery to fix his cleft lips. Another invasive procedure was performed to fix the cleft palate. This is a hole in one's roof. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately one in every 1,600 American babies was born with a cleft palate and lip.
Shanee stated, "It's hard to look at your children." "I kept asking myself, 'What did you do?' "I kept asking, 'What did I do?'" They said it wasn’t something that I had done. It's all in your prayers.
Shanee's baby boy was also suffering from other health issues. His second Christmas was spent in hospital to have his leaking kidneys repaired. A hernia was also repaired and he had another operation. Doctors later transferred bone from his hip into his mouth to correct his lips and palate. To reduce the possibility of infection, doctors also placed tubes in his ears.
Louise Pegues, Shanee’s aunt, said that they would bring Shanee into one surgery and then take him out of another. He was so used to going to the hospital, that he would say to his mom, "No, I don’t want to go." He knew the route.
Despite numerous surgeries for young Zamir's health, Shanee did not second guess Nancy's advice.
She said, "I'm glad I listened" to her grandma. "I didn’t want to have children in high school. He was not planned. But it happened, and I love him to the end.
Zamir White is not only a star player in Athens, but also spends time with the families of children with craniofacial differences. Photo by Collins family
Nancy White took over care of Zamir once he was released from the hospital. Zamir was already walking when he was one and running shortly after that. His great-grandmother had a rule that Zamir couldn't see further than she could.
Pegues stated that she wouldn't let him leave her sight because she knew that if he took a step ahead of her, she wouldn't be able to catch him. I had to chase him down and it was hard. "I didn't know that a boy could run as fast as that."
The family faced another crisis in 2003, as if Zamir's health issues weren't enough. Nancy's mobile house caught fire and Shanee saved her great-grandmother, as well as her toddler son.
Pegues stated that Shanee tried to return in to retrieve some of their belongings, but Nancy wouldn't allow her to. They lost everything.
The family then moved into another home and finally to an apartment. This is where Zamir lived until he went to college in Athens.
His family signed Zamir up to play football in a Laurinburg recreation league when he was six years old. His coaches saw that he was unique from the rest. Richard Bailey, one of his coaches, said to Shanee that her son would be playing in the NFL.
Shanee stated, "He told me truth that day." "I don’t know what he was really envisioning, but I thought he was crazy, honestly."
His father, Zamir, was in prison at the time he was born. He has never had a close relationship with him. Anthony Pegues, Shanee's uncle was able to step in as a father figure. When Zamir was in elementary school, he said to his uncle Anth, "I want be great!"
Anthony said to his great-nephew, "Walter Payton was the greatest player I've ever seen." "You have to understand what greatness means. We're not talking here about an average player. You stated that you want to be the best. You must live that statement and eat football. This is what you have to really desire."
Anthony was active with Zamir almost every day. He did push-ups and situps as well as running.
Anthony stated, "I did what any uncle would do for [his] nephew." "We practiced together. We also prayed together. We did basically everything a father would do for his child.
Although school was difficult for Zamir, particularly after the death of his great-grandmother, he found his calling in football. Other kids didn't make fun of Zamir's scars or his poor speech. He was like everyone else, but he was better.
Zamir said, "Football is everything to me." He has 400 rushing yards and eight touchdowns for the Bulldogs heading into Saturday's match against Florida. "It's just for me a safe place where I can forget everything that I've gone through. It's like therapy for me. Football is my favorite sport.
In 2014, Zamir was a Scotland High School freshman and started the 2014 season as the third-string back. After only two games, Zamir was promoted to the position of starter after he scored a 53-yard touchdown. He was one of the most highly recruited players in the country by his junior season. LSU, Alabama and Georgia were all interested. He ran for 2,086 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior in 2017. His average of 14.1 yards per run was 14.1 He graduated high school as the fifth-most prolific rusher in North Carolina history, with 7,169 yards.
Richard Bailey, Scotland High's coach, said that he has been coaching for a while and had a lot of experience with [FBS college] players. He is the hardest worker I've ever seen. He never missed a practice or missed a workout. He has never complained to me. It's great when your best player works hard.
Scotland High appeared to be well on its way to winning the Class 4A state championship in Zamir's senior year, but then he was hurt in the last minutes of a 63-26 win against Seventy-First High School, Fayetteville (North Carolina) in the second round. When Zamir was injured, he wasn't even carrying a ball and didn't pay much attention to the injury as he limped off. The Georgia team doctors diagnosed Zamir with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Kirby Smart, Georgia coach, said that he didn't hesitate to take Zamir even after the injury.
Smart stated, "This is an incredible talent and a 5-star kid, but he's also a 10 star character." Smart said, "He has an undeniable passion for the game and a deep love for people. We knew he was going to be a valuable part of our program." It's possible to repair an ACL, so it will get better.
In August 2018, Zamir, in a cruel twist of fate, tore his left ACL while covering a punt at Georgia.
"That one hurt me because it was the first time I'd gotten back. I was like, "Finally, my groove has returned ,''' Zamir." "I was out there practicing, and scrimmaging alongside the guys. It was insane.
After tearing his ACL in the right knee during high school senior year, Zamir White suffered another setback when he tore his ACL in the left knee in August 2018, his first season at Georgia. Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP
Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee stated that Zamir's childhood medical issues helped him recover from two severe knee injuries in a year. Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb, former Bulldogs running backs, encouraged Zamir throughout his rehabilitation. Both of them had torn ACLs in college.
McGee stated that he believed it helped him cope with outside influences. It showed a lot resilience. With that attitude of "nothing's too large", I can overcome any obstacle, no matter how big. He's a great example of how his childhood helped him overcome the issues he faced.
After redshirting as an freshman, Zamir ran behind D'Andre Swift in 2019 and ran for 408 yards with three touchdowns. He ran 779 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in 10 games last season. McGee encouraged Zamir to enter the NFL draft after the season because of his history of knee injuries.
McGee stated that he felt he should have because of his surgeries. McGee said, "You don’t want him to get hurt again during his senior years. He believed in his abilities and that you have some tread left on your tires. He believed he could improve his draft stock. He had faith in Coach Smart, the team, and he was determined to do something extraordinary."
It would have been simple for Zamir to move. Laurinburg, his hometown, is among the most deprived in North Carolina. A town of approximately 15,000 people has a poverty rate 33.8%. This is three times higher than the national average. The median income for the year is $30,862, which is less than half of the national average. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that all 1,353 students at Scotland High were eligible for free lunches in 2019-2020. Only three students were not eligible.
His mother advised Zamir to go to Georgia when he left. You cannot stay here. Living in Scotland County is not an option. You can't. You have to get out of here."
Shanee, now 36 years old, is well-acquainted with the problems of Laurinburg residents. After graduating from high school, she went to college and received a master's in criminal justice at Fayetteville state university. As a corrections officer, she works in the Department of Public Safety.
She said, "We have so many talented kids and we've got so much talent that comes from Scotland High School." They just succumb to the streets and all of the other stuff around here. My son is not going to become another statistic like that. Every day I go to work, I see many men in prison. This is not what we are doing.
Shanee McClain and Zimora McClain still live in Laurinburg. Zamir would like to travel to the NFL with them to assist in their departure.
Zamir stated, "For my mom, to go back to school, and believe in herself after having me so young, and seeing her fight no matter what, that's something I'm proud about her." That's something I have to repay her for. She's probably not expecting it. My mother doesn’t care about material possessions, but I want to go to the NFL to support my sister, aunts, and mother for all they have done for me."
Zamir is also giving back in other ways. Extra Special People is an Athens-based organization that supports people with disabilities. Zamir has been closely involved with them. He has also encouraged young people with cleft lips and cleft palate to get involved whenever he can.
Jimbo Floyd and Jenny learned that their first child, James was born with a craniofacial anomaly during an ultrasound in the 36th weeks of Jenny's pregnancy. Doctors insisted on labor immediately and James was born March 20th with a cleft palate and lip.
Jimbo brought James and Henry to Georgia's football practice two years back. Jimbo, an Atlanta-based insurance agent, reached out to Zamir about the possibility of his sons meeting him. After practice, Zamir and James threw the ball for approximately 15 minutes. Zamir whispered to James something that he won't share his brother or parents.
"I wish I knew," Jimbo said. The smile that Zamir had on his face after he finished speaking was something I can't even describe. He was full of confidence and excitement. My son was immediately attracted to him. Although it was only 15 minutes, my son found the friendship that he needed.
After learning that James Floyd (left), and his brother Jeremy were also born with cleft palate and cleft lips, Zamir White formed a close bond with James Floyd. Photo/Floyd family
Ashley Collins, a Bulldogs supporter from Decatur in Georgia, met Zamir in a lobby at an on-campus hotel just before a 2019 football game. Collins and Casey had just learned that Harper, their youngest child, was soon to be born with a craniofacial distinction.
Collins stated, "I almost told it to him about it but I knew that I couldn't cry in front of a child who was about for a big football match."
Ashley was advised by a doctor, like Shanee, that she could end her pregnancy. However, it would need to be done quickly under Georgia's abortion laws.
"You already know Zamir's story and can relate it to your own family. Ashley agreed. This is not a life-threatening condition. They will live a normal, healthy life. It was shocking that anyone would have suggested this.
Harper was born in January 2020 with a cleft palate and lip. Harper is now almost two years old and has had two surgeries. Ashley hopes that her daughter will be able to meet Zamir someday. She has been looking for a small No. You can find the 3 Georgia jersey online.
Ashley stated, "To see his impact and being open about it has given us a lot more inspiration." He has not let that stop him from being great and overcoming any obstacles. He is a shining light. We love Zamir and feel such an emotional connection to him."
Smart expressed pride in the positive impact Zamir has had on children with similar circumstances.
Smart stated that he has embraced it all his life. Smart said that he admires young people who have the same traits as him. He is so charismatic that I have seen children walk up to him with their eyes lit up.
At the moment, Zamir's focus is on Georgia beating Florida and winning SEC. This would allow the Bulldogs to try and end their 41-year-old drought in College Football Playoff without winning a national championship.
They'll do it on the back of a 22 year-old man, who was not supposed to live past two weeks.
Bailey stated that he felt God had given Bailey a chance. He felt like he owed God and his family the ability to make the best of his talents and take advantage of every opportunity. It gives me chills to think about it. However, I do believe that part of his drive was to make sure he doesn't cheat the opportunity. "I've been granted a lease of life.
Zamir is taking advantage of this opportunity. Doctors recommended another procedure that would require Zamir to have his jaw broken and the alignment of it. He has resisted the urge to undergo yet another surgery.
Zamir stated, "I'm fine as I am." "I know that I am perfect in God's eyes and that is all that matters to my heart."
