University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Darryl Shaw: His Hero Beyond the Track
September 29, 2018 | Track & Field
CHAPEL HILL, NC. – Darryl Shaw is no stranger when it comes to facing adversity. After a serious ankle injury left the two-time All-ACC student-athlete unable to compete on UNC's track team last year, Shaw was forced to step away from the field and focus on his recovery.
Finally cleared and ready to compete for his senior year, Shaw is more motivated than ever going into the season. One of the biggest motivators behind it all? His father.
"I call him any time before I compete, and we pray on the phone," Shaw says. He also calls his father right after he competes to tell him how the long jump or triple jump event went.
If you met Shaw, Sr., for the first time, it's likely he would greet you with a big smile. You would never guess the illness that he has battled for over a decade.
Darryl Shaw, Jr.'s father, Darryl Shaw, Sr., was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) in 2007. Darryl Shaw, Jr. was only in third grade when the diagnosis came.
"At the time, I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what all his doctors' appointments were for, or why he was having surgeries." Shaw recalls. It was not until he was older that he was able to understand what was happening.
Shaw grew up a Tar Heel fan. He moved around a lot growing up for his father's job in the military, but when they came to North Carolina, Carolina Blue and the world of UNC sports grew on him, and he was won over by the Tar Heel spirit.
By the time applying to colleges came around, he was starting to feel sick of seeing Carolina Blue everywhere He was sick of everything being about UNC. That all changed during his official visit to UNC. When he stepped foot on campus, he felt like he was right where he was supposed to be. Maybe it had not been the school he had envisioned for himself, but being here now, it feels like it was right for him. He can't imagine himself being anywhere else.
Shaw did not know it at the time, but his decision to attend UNC would also help bring him closer to his father. Since his parents are currently living in Fayetteville, N.C., many of Shaw Sr.'s treatments have been at UNC Health Care facilities. For 10 years, Shaw, Sr. has been in and out of hospitals, undergoing numerous surgeries with his surgeon Dr. Gerald Hladik to partially remove the cancerous parts of his kidneys until they grew back. He got his first kidney fully removed a year ago, but the remaining kidney was too far-gone, and the cancerous parts kept growing back. It eventually got to the point where it was too bad, and he had his second kidney removed this past March.
Through his four years as a Tar Heel, Darryl has been able to stay with his father at the hospital after surgeries and dialysis treatments, something he is grateful for. Being close to home has also provided the opportunity for his parents to come and watch him compete at meets.
Shaw Jr.'s father has been a supporter of his son's love for track since Shaw first joined the team his sophomore year of high school. While his first attempt as a sprinter didn't quite work out, he found a love for long jump and triple jump. Shaw, Sr. didn't really understand track when Darryl first started competing, but that never stopped him from supporting his son's dreams, bringing him to all his meets and taking care of him.
"He's a goofball," Shaw said, smiling. "His kidney cancer has not always been easy to deal with, but he makes it so much easier."
Shaw, Sr. is always laughing. Even with the early diagnosis of kidney cancer, Shaw, Sr. remained active in the military for five years following the diagnosis until he honorably retired in 2012. When things get tough, Shaw, Jr. tries to be like him. His father is the person he looks up to the most. When faced with a challenge, it is his dad's positive outlook on life and fighting spirit that he thinks about.
As of a little over a year ago, Darryl Shaw, Sr. is officially cancer free. That's an exciting victory for him and his family, but his fight is far from over.
Since both of his kidneys were removed, Shaw, Sr. regularly requires dialysis treatments, a procedure that is taxing on the body, leaving his father physically drained and exhausted. However, even as he waits for a kidney transplant or a miracle, his spirit has remained unwavering.
As Shaw prepares for this year's season, he is as motivated and as excited as ever. He has big hopes for this year, with goals of being healthy enough to compete for All-American status, and practicing to beat the school record for triple jump.
As he trains for this upcoming season, his parents, his father especially, remain a big motivating factor behind it all.
"I'm just happy to be healthy. I'm excited to compete again, and just to put the uniform on," Shaw says. Through it all, there is one thing Shaw knows for sure, he is going to go out there and make his father proud.
Finally cleared and ready to compete for his senior year, Shaw is more motivated than ever going into the season. One of the biggest motivators behind it all? His father.
"I call him any time before I compete, and we pray on the phone," Shaw says. He also calls his father right after he competes to tell him how the long jump or triple jump event went.
If you met Shaw, Sr., for the first time, it's likely he would greet you with a big smile. You would never guess the illness that he has battled for over a decade.
Darryl Shaw, Jr.'s father, Darryl Shaw, Sr., was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) in 2007. Darryl Shaw, Jr. was only in third grade when the diagnosis came.
"At the time, I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what all his doctors' appointments were for, or why he was having surgeries." Shaw recalls. It was not until he was older that he was able to understand what was happening.
Shaw grew up a Tar Heel fan. He moved around a lot growing up for his father's job in the military, but when they came to North Carolina, Carolina Blue and the world of UNC sports grew on him, and he was won over by the Tar Heel spirit.
By the time applying to colleges came around, he was starting to feel sick of seeing Carolina Blue everywhere He was sick of everything being about UNC. That all changed during his official visit to UNC. When he stepped foot on campus, he felt like he was right where he was supposed to be. Maybe it had not been the school he had envisioned for himself, but being here now, it feels like it was right for him. He can't imagine himself being anywhere else.
Shaw did not know it at the time, but his decision to attend UNC would also help bring him closer to his father. Since his parents are currently living in Fayetteville, N.C., many of Shaw Sr.'s treatments have been at UNC Health Care facilities. For 10 years, Shaw, Sr. has been in and out of hospitals, undergoing numerous surgeries with his surgeon Dr. Gerald Hladik to partially remove the cancerous parts of his kidneys until they grew back. He got his first kidney fully removed a year ago, but the remaining kidney was too far-gone, and the cancerous parts kept growing back. It eventually got to the point where it was too bad, and he had his second kidney removed this past March.
Through his four years as a Tar Heel, Darryl has been able to stay with his father at the hospital after surgeries and dialysis treatments, something he is grateful for. Being close to home has also provided the opportunity for his parents to come and watch him compete at meets.
Shaw Jr.'s father has been a supporter of his son's love for track since Shaw first joined the team his sophomore year of high school. While his first attempt as a sprinter didn't quite work out, he found a love for long jump and triple jump. Shaw, Sr. didn't really understand track when Darryl first started competing, but that never stopped him from supporting his son's dreams, bringing him to all his meets and taking care of him.
"He's a goofball," Shaw said, smiling. "His kidney cancer has not always been easy to deal with, but he makes it so much easier."
Shaw, Sr. is always laughing. Even with the early diagnosis of kidney cancer, Shaw, Sr. remained active in the military for five years following the diagnosis until he honorably retired in 2012. When things get tough, Shaw, Jr. tries to be like him. His father is the person he looks up to the most. When faced with a challenge, it is his dad's positive outlook on life and fighting spirit that he thinks about.
As of a little over a year ago, Darryl Shaw, Sr. is officially cancer free. That's an exciting victory for him and his family, but his fight is far from over.
Since both of his kidneys were removed, Shaw, Sr. regularly requires dialysis treatments, a procedure that is taxing on the body, leaving his father physically drained and exhausted. However, even as he waits for a kidney transplant or a miracle, his spirit has remained unwavering.
As Shaw prepares for this year's season, he is as motivated and as excited as ever. He has big hopes for this year, with goals of being healthy enough to compete for All-American status, and practicing to beat the school record for triple jump.
As he trains for this upcoming season, his parents, his father especially, remain a big motivating factor behind it all.
"I'm just happy to be healthy. I'm excited to compete again, and just to put the uniform on," Shaw says. Through it all, there is one thing Shaw knows for sure, he is going to go out there and make his father proud.
Players Mentioned
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