GILMER, Texas — September is National Healthy Aging Month, which hopes to raise awareness for the physical and mental health of people 45 years or older.
Gilmer native Elwyn Henderson, who has been recognized for his work covering local sports, is keeping a positive outlook on life despite his decade long battle with diabetes.
Henderson likes to spend his weekends catching the game or catching up on work. His friends call him "Big E," someone who has never been shy about his size.
“As you can tell, I've always loved to eat,” Henderson said.
Henderson is a Gilmer High School graduate and longtime reporter for the Gilmer Mirror.
He’s interviewed countless NFL stars including the great Tom Landry and Tony Dorsett.
Henderson has covered 19 Super Bowls in his lifetime. The ones he cherished most featured East Texas’ own Patrick Mahomes.
“The three Super Bowls I've seen Patrick Mahomes win because I followed Patrick when he was a junior at Whitehouse High School and he's a first-class young man and does everything right,” Henderson said.
Since his diagnosis, Henderson's life has changed, and new challenges arose that he had to get used to.
“The biggest change is I have to take insulin before breakfast, before lunch, and before dinner,” Henderson said. “I’ve got bruises all over my stomach and my arms most of the time.”
Managing the disease has been a long journey of trial and error, involving various medications and countless doctor visits, but starting the continuous glucose monitoring system changed his life for the better.
"I've feel better than I've probably felt in seven years right now,” Henderson said.
That’s not the only medical challenge he’s overcome. Henderson was diagnosed with prostate cancer a little over five years ago, and beat it.
“I’ve truly been blessed and consider it a miracle to still be here,” he said.
None of that has slowed him down.
“In my head, I'm a 40-year-old man walking around in an almost 69-year-old body,” Henderson said. “I think I'm still going to be doing something until about an hour after my funeral.”
Despite the challenges, Henderson maintains a positive outlook.
“The bottom line is I love life. I want to live, I want to be here 20 more years,” Henderson said.
He plans to keep working, covering the Cowboys and the Buckeyes, before he makes his 20th Super Bowl in February.
“I can't ever give up the Cowboys,” he said. “And of course, I bleed orange and black, so giving up my Buckeyes will probably be the last thing I do, but I will have to slow down somewhere down the road.”