No excuses: Despite a chronic medical condition, Louisville’s Fasteen excels at his sport and invites young athletes to do the same
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BVM) — Jack Fasteen has been flying up and down a soccer field since he was 3. By the time he was 10, the Louisville native knew he wanted to try for a professional soccer career.
“My dream was always to be able to go to Europe and be a professional there since Europe is the epicenter of soccer,” Fasteen said. “Realistically though, it is almost impossible to earn a spot there when you come from the U.S.”
Before Fasteen reached his goal of playing soccer in Europe, he met a speed bump. When he was 14, he started noticing blood when he used the restroom. He experienced severe bloating and pain in his abdomen. After a series of diagnostic procedures, Fasteen was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
“Essentially the disease is an overreactive immune response in your colon that leads to mild to severe internal bleeding,” Fasteen said. “This brings intense pain like a dagger in your gut, saps your energy and depletes your body’s resources.”
For a young athlete hoping for a professional soccer career, this diagnosis could have led to despair. Instead, Fasteen became proactive in his health and never let his sights shift from his goals.
“Ulcerative colitis works in periods of flares and remission and there is no cure,” Fasteen said. “It needs to be brought under control using any combination of treatments. Once it’s under control for a certain amount of time, you are in remission. Once you are in remission you have a maintenance routine of medication that will hopefully prevent any future flares. I’ve had three flares; two of which were pretty substantial.”
Nonetheless, shortly after his diagnosis, an opportunity came for Fasteen to go train in Europe. He stayed in various apartments and hotels in Italy and Slovenia, picking up a foreign language by immersion, and continuing his high school education online in the evenings. All the while he was finding a balance in maintaining a relatively new medical struggle.
“He would get a four-month supply of Humira and his other medicines and travel back to Europe with them in refrigerated bags,” Pam Fasteen, Jack’s mother, said. “He has certainly had his share of challenges with his condition, and he continually overcomes them as they arise.”
Jack was performing at a high enough level to be noticed by a major club in Europe and, at the age of 16, he was scouted to be an extended trialist, which is basically a probationary squad member.
“That opportunity turned out to be the game changer for me,” Jack said. “It took my whole situation from a slim chance to a tangible reality. I was no longer playing with talented kids, but with adult men.”
Over the course of his time in Europe, Jack received three offers to play on professional teams: one in Italy and two in Slovenia. The first two offers came when he was younger than 18. He turned them down because he was unable to apply for a work visa then. The third he declined because he was hesitant about the club’s motives.
“It was a really major decision, and a difficult one,” Jack said. “But I had to think logically rather than emotionally. I still believe I made the right decision based on the situation. I was able to accomplish my lifelong dream of being a professional player in Europe and I will always carry that accomplishment with me.”
Jack came home to Kentucky after a few years in Europe and now plays midfield for the University of Louisville men’s soccer team. His mindset has been one of determination and perseverance.
“It would be extremely easy to make excuses and not work as hard because of all this,” Jack said. “The simple reality is that the sports world does not slow down for anyone. I don’t allow my disease to be an excuse or hinder my progress.”
Jack has taken even further steps to encourage young athletes when they find themselves in a similar situation. Cristian Velasquez was 12 when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. His mom, Vanessa, connected with Pam in an online support group. Cristian is also a soccer player and was struggling to adjust to his new normal.
“He was now faced with taking medication every day, side effects of the medicines, frequent bathroom trips, many doctor visits, the list went on and on,” Vanessa said. “Jack called him up and it was so helpful for him to hear from someone who could truly relate and give an honest perspective on what this new life could be like. Cristian hasn’t given up since then.”
Jack has an ongoing friendship with a young athlete in Louisville, who went through a brain cancer diagnosis and treatment, including two surgeries and radiation treatment. Logan Pottlitzer, 13, is now cancer-free, and his mother Maria says he drew strength from his friendship with Jack.
“I think kids that have been through things like Logan and Jack can’t help but feel like things are different for them from their friends,” Maria said. “They feel that just as much as they don’t want to be defined by those things. Jack has been a wonderful example to Logan, showing him strength and perseverance. Logan watches Jack’s accomplishments and know that he has great things ahead of him as well.”
Jack even sees a future for himself beyond the soccer field, where he can go on inspiring people with medical struggles to continue to reach for their dreams.
“I think a lot of people experience some kind of major hardship and may feel a bit helpless,” Jack said. “I find it easy to connect to people in this way, probably because I actually understand the kind of feelings that they may have. I think I would be a great fit to have a career related to this, like being a psychologist, in the future and I would find it very enjoyable and meaningful.”
