Pepin?s Eyes on Track, But His Heart?s in Omaha

WOWT Video: Living Life with Cystic Fibrosis

Randy York N-Sider

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Nebraska’s Gary Pepin didn’t become the all-time leading conference championship coach in the history of the Big 12 and former Big Eight without eating, sleeping, plotting and planning every day of his near lifelong commitment to track and field in general and the Huskers in particular.

Today, Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, is an exception to Pepin’s total mindset on maximizing performance to enhance Nebraska’s prospects to win another conference championship.

In his 36th season as the Huskers' head track and field coach, Pepin’s eyes will be on Nebraska’s critically important tune-up on its own indoor track. His heart, however, will be in Omaha, where Chad Bautch, his son-in-law with cystic fibrosis, will be honored at a major fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. in Elkhorn, Neb.

The Nebraska Tune-Up begins at 12:15 p.m. Friday and follows the same basic format and timeline that both Husker track and field teams will face next Friday when NU's men defend their 2015 Big Ten indoor title and the Husker women begin their respective two-day Big Ten Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship competition in Geneva, Ohio.

Family Members Attend a Fundraising Event That Pepin Supports, Values

While Pepin remains focused on the teams he coaches, his wife and all three of their daughters, plus all five Pepin grandchildren, will attend Friday’s Team Chad Fundraiser to support his 40-year-old son-in-law (pictured above with his wife Heidi, Pepin's daughter). Last week, Bautch was moved to the top of a Minneapolis hospital’s lung transplant list.

Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age three, Bautch’s parents were told his life expectancy would be 14. He’s beaten amazing odds and has remained positive throughout the trials he and his family have faced. “It takes a strong person to step into Chad’s shoes,” Pepin told me. “You have to have great faith in the Lord to do what he’s done. When you see him, know him and hear him, he’s absolutely like a guy you’d pick to be a movie star. He’s a very, very special guy, a hard worker, a tremendous family guy and a guy who loves Christ, family, friends and his church.”

Pepin marvels at his son-in-law’s faith while he counts down the opportunity to receive new lungs. “He’s on top of the donor list,” Pepin said. “When they find a match, he has four hours to take a private jet to get to Minneapolis for the transplant, then spend three months in the hospital, including two months where someone has to be with him 24 hours a day.”

Through Faith, Chad and Heidi Bautch Reinforce Their Kids, Each Other

Heidi Bautch – Gary and JeanAnn Pepin’s daughter – has been married to Chad for 20 years. They have a 13-year-old son and 6-year-old boy/girl twins. Pepin said the Bautchs prayed about having children, and their family has reinforced each other throughout the process.

“People look at my kids and think they’re lucky,” Bautch said. “I want them to know they had a really good dad and he loved them a lot. I want them to know he spent a lot of time with them and really showed them love like Christ showed His love.”

Pepin is moved by his son-in-law, his daughter and their entire family. “If you fall in love with someone, you know the scenario right off the bat, including the struggles and turmoil that come with it,” he said. “We’re very proud of the way they’ve faced everything in their lives and very proud of the way they’ve handled it.”

In this Relevant Community Church video, Chad Bautch shares how faith transformed his life.

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