Cameron Lyle has Heart! Shortens College Athletic Career to Donate Bone Marrow and Save a Man's Life

University of New Hampshire Track and Field athlete Cameron Lyle was looking forward to his senior year conference championship meet when he received a one in five million phone call that would ultimately cut his college athletic career short.

That call informed Cameron he was a potential bone marrow match for a complete stranger in need of the transplant. After more tests, the match was confirmed. Lyle had a huge decision to make, end his college track and field career early to save a strangers life or decline the donor request. Transplant patients are not told of a potential match until the donor agrees, so the stranger would know any different if Cameron Lyle declined.

Cameron tells Good Morning America/Yahoo News, that the decision was easy, "It was kind of a no-brainer for a decent human. I couldn't imagine just waiting. He could have been waiting for years for a match. I'd hope that someone would donate to me if I needed it."

Watch the GMA Video with Cameron Lyle here.

After saying yes, Lyle slowly realized his season was over and he had to tell his coach, a conversation he was nervous about and not looking forward to having. After the procedure, Lyle, a Shot Put and Hammer Throw specialist will not be allowed to lift more than 20 pounds over his head, effectively ending his season. "It's just a sport," he said. "Just because it's Division I college level doesn't make it any more important. Life is a lot more important than that, so it was pretty easy." (Good Morning America/Yahoo News.)

It turns out there was no need to be nervous about telling his college coach that he would no longer be able to compete. UNH Track and Field Coach, Jim Boulanger was supportive and proud of his athlete whom he had coached for four years.

"Here's the deal," Boulanger told Lyle. "You go to the conference and take 12 throws or you could give a man three or four more years of life. I don't think there's a big question here. This is not a moral dilemma. There's only one answer. “

“I don't have any doubt that he's very compassionate and it was just a given that he'd do it. "You can't ask for any more out of a person than to help another person," said Boulanger.

Cameron's mother, Chris Sciacca is more than pleased with her son's choice too. "I am beyond words proud. He is my hero," Sciacca said. "When your children inspire you to be better people, you know it's come full circle and he's inspired his mom to be a better circle." (Good Morning America/Yahoo News).

Cameron competed in his final event in April and a few days later he was in the hospital to complete the donor procedure. The transplant patient is a young man with leukemia. Lyle was told that the man only has six months to live without the transplant. Lyle and the recipient have to remain anonymous for at least a year, but can then sign consent forms to release their identities should they choose.

"I really want to meet him," Lyle said, "and I hope he wants to meet me."

Cameron Lyle has “Heart” in a big way. He sacrificed his senior season college athletic career to save a man's life whom he had never met. Cameron used his “Moral Heart” to do the right thing.

In a self centered world Cameron Lyle is truly an inspiration.

Do you think most people put in a similar situation would do the follow Cameron's lead? What would you do? Comment below.

For more on the principle of “Heart,” see Don't Seek Success – Be Happi.

Do you know of an inspiring story that exemplifies one or more of the core principles of Don't Seek Success -Be Happi (Belief, Enthusiasm, Heart, Attitude, Passion, Purpose and Imagination), email me at pbi2012@aol.com.

Be Great!

MB