Refuse to Lose: New Prairie Comes Together for Adopted Teammate, Isaac Porogi

Refuse to Lose: New Prairie Comes Together for Adopted Teammate, Isaac Porogi

#RefuseToLose

In its name, the phrase is quite simple: never give up. But to really refuse to lose, to live the relative simplicity of the statement, requires a courage and commitment to one’s self and others that is as complex and challenging as we could ever imagine.

In essence, many of us say refuse to lose, few often live it.

But that’s not the case of Isaac Porogi, a 16-year-old student at John Glenn High School in Walkerton, IN, he lives it.

Porogi is currently suffering from a highly aggressive bone cancer called Osteosarcoma and is receiving treatment at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. But as his friend from New Prairie High School, Tynan Williams, puts it, he’s going to fight; for himself, his family, and his adopted teammates at NPHS.

“I met Isaac Freshman year, and we’ve been competitors for years,” Williams told IIMM. “It was this competitiveness that made us friends, but what’s kept us friends has always been his selfless personality.”

And it’s this selfless personality that made Porogi stand out to Williams. Even in the toughest of matches, where tensions peaked and tempers would flare, Williams said Porogi never lost sight of what’s important.

“Even throughout tough fought games, when we were on the lane at the free throw line, we still would talk regularly and he would just ask how we've been,” Williams added.

Porogi became a second teammate to Williams and New Prairie, he was welcomed as part of the Cougar family; which is why when Porogi needed help, Williams knew he had to do something to help.

After all, Porogi would do the same thing for him.

And this is where #RefuseToLose and #TeamIsaac come into the story: they are a show of solidarity for Porogi and a rallying cry in their effort to help Porogi and his family overcome this setback.

And if all goes according to plan, #TeamIsaac will all meet again on the court this Friday. Sure, Isaac won’t be in his uniform, but in that moment still, everyone will be exactly where they should be.

If you would like to help Porogi’s cause, the family has setup a GoFundMe page with all proceeds going to help Porogi and his family.

But even if you can’t help monetarily, Williams said #TeamIsaac could always use a few more fans.

“We all ask that you keep Isaac in your prayers and wishes.”