--- title: "Marfan Foundation: Life Will Go on for Isaiah Austin" id: "23792" type: "post" slug: "marfan-foundation-life-will-go-on-for-isaiah-austin" published_at: "2014-06-24T20:55:39+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T12:13:48+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/24/marfan-foundation-life-will-go-on-for-isaiah-austin/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/24/marfan-foundation-life-will-go-on-for-isaiah-austin.md" excerpt: "While an NBA career isn't in the cards for Isaiah Austin, the Marfan Foundation says the basketball league may have saved his life by testing him for the genetic disorder. The foundation is using Austin's situation to draw attention to..." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AssociationsNow" - "Genetic Disorder" - "health awareness" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Early Career" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Marfan Foundation: Life Will Go on for Isaiah Austin Baylor University standout Isaiah Austin expected to get drafted by an NBA team Thursday night, but a fateful medical test got in the way. During a pre-draft physical required by the league, an abnormality was discovered in Austin’s EKG. After undergoing genetic tests, he received a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects a person’s connective tissues. The condition has a number of physical side effects—sufferers tend to be taller, with long limbs and fingers—but it’s the ones that aren’t visible to the eye that pose the most risk. The disease can weaken the heart valves and aorta, in some cases leading to sudden death. It’s for that reason that physicians recommended that Austin quit playing organized basketball. “They said I wouldn’t be able to play basketball anymore at a competitive level,” [Austin told ESPN on Sunday (opens in a new tab)](http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/11119553/former-baylor-star-isaiah-austin-career-ending-medical-condition?ex_cid=sportscenterFB) . “They found the gene in my blood sample. They told me that my arteries in my heart are enlarged and that if I overwork myself and push too hard that my heart could rupture. The draft is four days away, and I had a dream that my name was going to be called.” Austin, who is blind in his right eye, [had taken out a $1 million insurance policy (opens in a new tab)](http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2014/story/_/id/11125572/former-baylor-bears-star-isaiah-austin-1-million-insurance-policy) in case of a career-ending injury; the policy will likely pay out because of the diagnosis. ### Life With MarFan syndrome While Austin will miss out on the opportunity to play in the NBA, the diagnosis may have saved his life, the Marfan Foundation’s president and CEO, Carolyn Levering, said. “Competitive and contact sports need to be halted to protect the fragile aorta. Otherwise, it is prone to tear and possibly rupture, which would cause sudden death,” [Levering said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.marfan.org/about-us/news/2014/06/22/marfan-foundation-lauds-nba-screening-detects-marfan-syndrome-life#.U6m8A41dXA1) . There’s precedent for this: In 1986, [Olympic volleyball star Flo Hyman died (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/05/sports/sports-of-the-times-remembering-flo-hyman.html) of an aortic dissection while taking part in a tournament in Japan. Playwright Jonathan Larson died from the same cause as his popular play *Rent* was making its off-Broadway debut. In both cases, their Marfan syndrome was undiagnosed. But diagnosing the condition can be a challenge. [Larson was misdiagnosed as having the flu (opens in a new tab)](http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/health/marfan-syndrome-hard-identify) in the days before his death, preventing proper treatment. Levering credited the NBA’s proactive approach to genetic testing, which, she says, may have prevented a tragedy. Although Austin’s playing days are over, a career in basketball is still possible. Baylor basketball coach Scott Drew said a coaching position will be open to Austin if he chooses to return. “While it is disappointing for Isaiah that he cannot pursue a career in the NBA, receiving the diagnosis before a fatal episode is truly a gift,” Levering added. “With the diagnosis and treatment, he can live a long, productive life.” Isaiah Austin, shown right, was recently diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome. (via Baylor’s Facebook page) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/) [#Genetic Disorder](https://associationsnow.com/tag/genetic-disorder/) [#health awareness](https://associationsnow.com/tag/health-awareness/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/) - [VideoAssociation for Financial Counseling and Planning EducationSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/association-for-financial-counseling-and-planning-education/) - [VideoAllison Isch, PMP Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/allison-isch-pmp-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F06%2F24%2Fmarfan-foundation-life-will-go-on-for-isaiah-austin%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !