him really well.” Because of his brain injury, Bill
can’t talk and his hands are balled up and contracted, so the Dowlings have a unique communication system. Moves such as sticking out his tongue, cross- ing his arms and raising his eyebrows all have specific meanings. Family members can tell when he’s sad, when he needs medicine, when he’s hungry. They can also tell when he’s happy, and there’s no signal needed when Bill is watching Faith play volleyball. “When we take Bill to Faith’s prac- tices or games, that’s when we see him smile the most,” Jacki says. “To me, that’s therapy.” With Bill’s need for constant medical care, a trip to a practice or tournament isn’t easy, but it’s worth it for everyone involved. He’s at most practices and has been to tournaments in San Antonio, Dallas and Austin, often taking pictures with people who have followed his inspirational recovery. For Faith, seeing her father watching gives perspective to situations on the court and with her team.
“Whenever I’m playing, I say ‘Do
it for Daddy,’ and I always try to have a positive attitude,” she says. “I know that nothing can get as bad as it was.” Eddy Mize, who is Faith’s coach for
Woodlands Revolution 15-1 National, speaks to her mental toughness and great attitude.
“I never got the sense that there was anything unusual about her situation,” he says. “That’s quite a testament. Emo- tionally there has to be an impact from what she’s going through, but she never displays anything other than a happy- go-lucky kid. At first, having high expectations and demands of her on the court, I wasn’t sure how she would hold up. That’s one of the things I really like. I don’t have to treat Faith differently than any- one else, and I don’t have to worry about her emotional state. To me, that is a testament of the player and her parents. She doesn’t expect to be treated special, and she comes out and wants to be a competitive and elite player, which she has the tools to do. I have coached dozens of kids who might not have held up to what she’s been through.” Jacki echoes that sentiment. “Faith is such a positive person on the court,” she says. “She wants to pump every- one up, she wants to get the team going. Her attitude is what’s the best and what makes me the most proud. We all have bad plays, but she just brushes them off and keeps playing.
I’ve had the chance to coach some players who were very good athletes and some players who have had great attitudes. Coaching the ones who have both, like Faith, is a really pleasant experience.”
Faith gets her positive attitude from both parents. While in the hos- pital after the accident, Jacki was told that Bill would absolutely not survive. She didn’t want to hear it.
“I made it very clear that God had told me otherwise and we just went by that.” A former marine, Bill demon- strates his optimism and work ethic to Faith and her two brothers, Forrest and Foster, on a daily basis.
“He never gives up,” Faith says. “He always wants more reps, more weight if he’s doing something. He’s always so positive and nice and lov- ing. He gets mad sometimes, but it’s probably because we’re bugging him!” To Faith, Bill is just Dad, whether
TOURNAMENT TIME: Bill Dowling enjoys the action courtside — and taking naps off it — during Faith’s vol- leyball tournaments. (Photos: Dowling family)
it’s pushing him around in his wheel- chair, snuggling up to him at tourna- ments or laughing with him when a volleyball rolls near where his feet used to be and he tries to kick it. “Faith has overcome something that could have been the end of any- one’s sporting career or other activity,” Jacki says. “But she has taken it and said, ‘You know, this is what I’ve got, and I’m going to make him as proud as I possibly can.’ Her attitude has been what makes me the most proud. She amazes me.”
For more information on the
Some people get really down, but that’s not her personality. She’s incredibly positive and always cheering, even if she’s not on the court.”
Her love of the game is always apparent to her coach.
“Faith plays because she likes the competition and the team dynamic,” Mize says. “You can tell she enjoys having her parents present to watch her. While I see so many parents push their kids for the sake of a scholarship opportunity, it’s rewarding to see Faith – who will likely have the opportunity to play at the next level – play for the enjoy- ment of herself and her parents. Her mother was a collegiate athlete but doesn’t drive Faith to do the same. They truly demonstrate the sport and club experience as a family.
Dowling’s inspirational journey together, please visit the Captain Wil- liam “Iron Bill” Dowling Facebook page at
facebook.com/ironbillironwill.
Support for the first responders
With the assistance of Help The Good Guys, an organization that helps Amer- ica’s severely injured first responders, platinum-selling country singer Aaron Tippin has released a special song called “One of the Good Guys” to help raise funds to purchase a special van for Bill to travel in. For more informa- tion and to download the song, please visit
HelpTheGoodGuys.org.
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