Born Fighting: How Faith and Football Shaped the Bradfords' Miracle Story

For the decade that Alex Franco has known him, San Antonio Southwest assistant coach Jim Bradford’s son, Joseph, has battled a health condition that Franco can’t explain. 

Every few months, Jim would miss a workday or two to fight an unseen enemy, then return to school to serve the Southwest players and as Franco’s personal mentor. Since Franco was in his first head-coaching job, he leaned on Bradford’s experience as a former head coach for advice on every decision. But the only thing Franco knew about his confidant’s son was that Joseph wanted nothing more than to play football, Jim wanted nothing more than to coach him, and neither knew if it could happen.