DETROIT — Charmane Zeigler was four months pregnant with Zakai Zeigler when the doctor delivered the news.
A checkup showed Zeigler’s spinal fluid was in her blood. Doctors said there must be a hole in his spine. Repeated tests confirmed the leakage, but scans never pinpointed the opening. Charmane Zeigler was told her son likely would have spina bifida, a condition that can result in physical and intellectual disabilities. He likely would never walk.
Life would never be normal for Zeigler.
Well, the doctors got that part right, anyway.
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“She always calls me her golden child,” he said. “I guess I am superhuman for real.”
Zeigler’s trademark is defying odds and proving he is exceptional. He is one of the fastest players in college basketball. He is playing 40 minutes in NCAA tournament games barely a year after having ACL surgery.
He is running Tennessee basketball to unseen heights in the tournament: The No. 2 seed Vols (27-8) are playing for the program’s first Final Four when they face No. 1 Purdue (32-4) on Sunday (2:20 p.m. ET, CBS), with Zeigler at the head of it all.
Zakai Zeigler: ‘God is great’
Charmane Zeigler moved from Georgia to New York City a couple months after doctors told her the distressing news. She wanted to situate herself close to her family for support given the expectation that her son would be born with obstacles.
