From surgeries to sidelines, freshman finds love for sports while fighting a heart condition

No one chooses to live with a heart condition or learning disabilities, let alone both, but for freshman Damon Dauel, that is the life he lives. While he didn’t choose to have those conditions, they haven’t stopped him from chasing his dreams. 

Born with a chromosomal abnormality, Dauel needed open heart surgery when he was only three days old. Even after four weeks in the hospital, he wasn’t allowed to leave his home for the first year of his life because of his weakened immune system. From then on, it was heart surgery after heart surgery.

“For open heart surgery, you’re always nervous,” his mother, Brenda Dauel said. “You’re always nervous because you never know if something will go as they think it will go. When he was nine months old, the doctors thought his surgery was going to be a four-hour surgery, but it was a 13-hour surgery. The doctors went from Plan A to Plan B to Plan C and then made it up as they were going. So, that one was bad.” 

Having had four open heart surgeries and other procedures before the age of 14, Damon found a love of sports, specifically Husker sports, as he recovered in bed. He watched games and highlights on an iPad. It is what soothed him.

“It’s always been sports,” Aaron Dauel, Damon’s father said. “He watched a few cartoons, but it was always sports.”

Because of his condition, Damon could not play sports, so when he got to high school he made a plan to make one of his dreams of being part of the team a reality. He became the manager of the football, boys basketball and baseball teams. 

“He wants so much to be a part of a team and to be a part of sports,” his dad said. “He’s never, besides being a part of a little league basketball team, done things like that. The best part about it is how all the coaches and members of the teams treat Damon. As a freshman, he thinks he’s kind of cool, and it’s really nice.”

Luckily, Damon hasn’t had to have surgery since coming to high school. His last procedure was in the spring of 2023. Before the surgery, he was invited by Nebraska Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fred Hoiberg to watch a practice. Hoiberg’s career playing in the NBA ended in 2005 when he was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm, so Hoiberg wanted to support Damon before his surgery. 

As a die-hard Husker fan, Damon jumped at the opportunity.

“When you get your chest cracked open, not only is it physically tough, but it’s mentally tough,” Hoiberg said. “So to be able to talk to people who have been through it is something that I think is very important. I think of us, who have heart disease, as in a club, so it’s always good to meet people who are in the same boat.” 

Damon’s 2023 surgery replaced an old pacemaker and an artificial valve that was inserted when he was four years old. After the surgery, he wanted to leave the hospital as soon as possible to watch the Husker football spring game. 

“We said if he got out of the hospital a day early he could watch the game at home because he did not want to watch it in the hospital,” his mom said. “That was his motivation.”

Always a Husker fan, Damon was also the number one fan of Gretna High athletics while attending middle school. He patiently waited around gyms and fields for the Dragons’ games to end. He stayed until the players were done to give them high-fives. Damon was too young to work as a manager but was always there to support the Dragons. 

“Damon is extremely consistent,” Gretna High football coach Joe Dalton said. “He was probably our biggest supporter in all sports. He is that way with all of his teams.”

Before starting high school at Gretna East, Damon knew he wanted to be a manager for the school’s sports teams. When football coach Justin Haberman heard about him, Haberman was excited to include him as a part of the team. 

“Coach Haberman gave Damon a sweatshirt in middle school and told him that even though he wasn’t going to be there for a year, he wanted Damon to be a part of his team,” Aaron said. “It’s just utterly incredible. He was waiting for Damon to come in the door, so he knew Damon’s story.” 

Damon filled water bottles and helped with equipment at football practice. But, he brought so much more to the team. 

“Damon is a huge value,” Haberman said. “The biggest thing he brings is the everyday smile and hard work.” 

No matter what Damon is doing, his family is thankful he can be part of the teams. In less than one year at the school, Damon has already made a major impact, especially with the teams that he manages. 

“Damon is the core of our football team,” sophomore Quinn Bera said. “He brings us all together to form one family. It’s Dame Time all the time.” 

Hospital visits and heart procedures continue to be a part of Damon’s life, but so do sports. Despite all he’s been through, Damon has stayed positive throughout his journey. 

“He’s a kid that, through it all, has never complained,” Brenda said.

Whether he’s managing a game or helping at a practice, Damon continues to show up for all of his assignments, despite all that he has had to fight. His commitment helps him continue to succeed in everything he does.  

“He’s a passionate young man,” Hoiberg said. “I think he has a very bright future.”