Defying the Odds: Thomas Kramer Finally gets his chance to Take to the Field
Updated: Sep 20
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA, MI - For most high school football players, taking the field for the first time is simply the beginning of their football journey.
For Pewamo-Westphalia senior Thomas Kramer, it was the culmination of one.
After four seasons around the PW football program, Kramer finally got the opportunity to suit up and take the field Friday night, entering the game as a long snapper for the #10 ranked Pewamo-Westphalia Pirates, as they hosted the Bath Bees.
It was a moment that, for much of Thomas’ life seemed impossible.
Thomas was born with Tetralogy of Fallot (fuh-LOW), a life-threatening condition affecting four parts of the heart and its ability to pump oxygen throughout the body. Without immediate surgery, doctors determined that he had no chance of survival. At just three days old, Thomas underwent his first open-heart surgery at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital to rebuild his aorta (main artery). Three months later, he underwent two more complex open-heart surgeries. Thomas spent the first 100 days of his life at Mott. At four months old, he underwent neurosurgery to treat hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. Doctors inserted a shunt to relieve the dangerous pressure caused by the excess fluid. Thomas’ medical history was previously documented by Beata Mostafavi of University of Michigan Health in her story, “Four Miraculous ‘Little Victors,’ One First-Grade Classroom.” The story followed Thomas and three other children from Pewamo-Westphalia who battled severe illnesses at Mott Children’s Hospital. According to Mostafavi’s reporting, Thomas was one of five known medically documented cases in the world involving babies born with his particular combination of problems who underwent attempted corrective surgery. Thomas was identified as the first-known survivor. Those medical challenges followed Thomas throughout his childhood and prevented him from passing a sports physical and participating in organized football. Football, however, still found a way into his life.
As an incoming freshman, Thomas was introduced to Pewamo-Westphalia head coach Jeremy Miller, who offered him an opportunity to become a student manager and be part of the football program. Four years later, Miller and the PW program found another way for Thomas to contribute.
Thomas began learning how to long snap, eventually his doctors cleared him to participate in a limited role, he could snap the football, but could not tackle or be tackled.
On Friday night, the opportunity finally became reality.
Thomas took the field in uniform for the first time.
“I was scared,” Thomas said after the game. “I think it wasn’t that bad. It was seeing the crowd.”
For Thomas, the moment wasn’t about the victory at-hand. It was about finally being able to experience playing on the field with his boys. “I love this community, I love my teammates,” Thomas said. “Just getting hugged and loved by all my teammates, I loved it.”
His teammates felt the significance, too.
Pewamo-Westphalia senior DL/OL Hayden Smith described Thomas’ opportunity as one of the most exciting moments of the season. “Bigger than any touchdown, any interception, any big play,” Smith said.
Head Coach Jeremy Miller, who first met Thomas as a shy ninth grader, has watched him grow into a major part of the PW football family.
“He’s a huge part of the team and the players love him,” Miller said.
For Miller, seeing Thomas finally get onto the field was about more than football.
“To just get that opportunity is one of the highlights in my coaching career,” Miller said.
Thomas has also become a familiar face to The Big Madonski over the years. For the last four or five seasons, he has regularly updated TBM with Pewamo-Westphalia scores. That tradition continued Friday, with one important difference. With PW leading Bath 45-0, Thomas messaged me with the score as he has done countless times before. Except this time, he was wearing a helmet and shoulder pads. I had to remind him that he was actually in pads and needed to put the phone away. Pewamo-Westphalia went on to defeat Bath, 59-0, but the final score was only a small part of what made the night memorable.
Thomas had finally gotten his chance.
And after everything he has overcome since the day he was born, he once again defied the odds.
Oh and because Thomas is a proud Michigan State fan, he also made sure to give a shoutout to his favorite player, Kenneth Walker III.
Congratulations, Thomas. From everyone at The Big Madonski — we’re proud of you.
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Thomas Kramer spoke with Grady Sullivan, who was part of Team Madonski for the evening, following Friday night’s game. Video interviews with Thomas, Coach Jeremy Miller and Hayden Smith accompany this story.
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