Local coach defined by what he still has

They say around 35,000 runners will pound pavement in Sunday’s Rock ’n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon, and its companion runs of a lesser distance. So there probably are around 35,000 stories about what possesses one to run 26.2 miles all at once until you gasp for air and your sides have been split like railroad ties. Same for the lesser distances. Unless you are from Kenya, in which case running 26.2 miles all at once is considered warming up.

This is only one of those stories.

It involves deadly flesh-eating bacteria, Jose Canseco, Yasiel Puig, a guy who was burned over 90 percent of his body when the car he was riding in exploded, and a gigantic helping of human spirit. The indomitable kind of human spirit.

The deadly flesh-eating bacteria is called necrotizing fasciitis. In January 2013, a Canyon Springs High School guidance counselor named Eddie Garcia was infected with it, and went into a coma.

When he woke up, his legs were gone, as were his hands, as were parts of both arms.

Necrotizing fasciitis is rare, but it can be a real SOB.

Eddie Garcia would survive, thanks to his aforementioned spirit, thanks to the medication that was nearly as potent as his vim and vigor, his grit and guts. The meds finally snuffed out the infection, though his limbs had to be sacrificed.

And thanks, also, to the decency, however momentary, of Jose Canseco.

Garcia explained it while we were sitting in his living room Thursday morning. A year before he got sick, he had played in a softball game in which Canseco played, at Big League Dreams Las Vegas.

When Canseco came to bat, Garcia was playing third base. So that was the first time Eddie thought he was a goner.

Canseco launched a softball that was still gaining altitude as it cleared the faux Crosley Field backdrop on the way to its final resting place in the Sea of Tranquility. Afterward, Garcia asked the much maligned slugger, who also lives in Henderson and recently shot a finger off while cleaning a gun, if he would pose for a photo.

Canseco put his arm around Eddie Garcia and smiled, gave him a couple of moments of his time. Which was a couple of more than Garcia expected, because a lot of people have said a lot of things about Jose Canseco, most of which are unflattering.

When Garcia saw the photo, he was repulsed. He had gained so much weight.

He cropped the photo, so you couldn’t tell how big he was around the middle.

So Eddie went on a diet; he lost 40 pounds. He got strong. And if he didn’t get strong, he believes he would have died when that SOB of an infection entered his bloodstream in January 2013.

He believes Jose Canseco was just important as those meds and his courage in saving his life.

Within months, Garcia was back on the soccer and softball fields, coaching his kids, drawing up plays using his teeth on a $15 stylus he bought at Target. That stylus is his hands and legs; he does everything with it. People were impressed by Eddie Garcia when they saw what he could do, and they were inspired by his indomitable spirit. Somebody nominated him for National Alliance of Youth Sports Coach of the Year.

Eddie won. On Friday, they are flying the 39-year-old to Orlando, Fla., to make a speech and to hand off the trophy to this year’s winner.

As for the part about Yasiel Puig, Garcia said he literally bumped into the Dodgers mercurial star in San Diego this summer, in the Gaslamp Quarter after a ballgame. That led to Puig’s cousin, Ramon, telling Eddie to jump in the back seat, where Yasiel was riding. And that led to Puig inviting Eddie and his family to come down onto the field at Petco Park the next day for photos and baseball chat in Spanish, and to meet Clayton Kershaw.

People also have said a lot of unflattering things about Yasiel Puig. You can forgive Eddie Garcia if he doesn’t believe them.

Puig even tweeted Garcia at this year’s Home Run Derby before the All-Star Game.

So that was quite a thrill, meeting No. 66 like that, because if there’s one thing Eddie Garcia enjoys more than life itself, it’s rooting for the Dodgers. So now he’s paying it forward, too.

On Sunday, he’ll try to run the half-marathon. He doesn’t know how far he’ll get. Last year, he ran the half of a half. He finished last, at least according to the electric timing and scoring devices.

On Sunday, he’ll run again, on prosthetic legs. His buddy Jorge Hernandez, burned so badly in that car crash and fire, is going to run with him. Let’s do this, Eddie said. Let’s do it together.

Eddie will be the one wearing the Team Chocolate Milk shirt; he even has a sponsor this year. Jorge will be the one in the wheelchair. Jorge is a hell of a competitor, too, Eddie says, and you should see his smile. It’s still so handsome.

Together, they will be just one of around 35,000 stories at the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon. But should you happen to see the guy wearing the chocolate milk shirt and the guy in the wheelchair pounding pavement, and they are gasping for air and their sides have split, it might be cool if you shouted a word of encouragement.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ron Kantowski can be reached at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. Follow him on Twitter: @ronkantowski.