![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/bowling-green\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/3-1024x683.png\")
Now embarking on this new journey, Leach is excited to build new relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told the schools when talking to them that I don\u2019t necessarily want the biggest conference, but I want the best conference and just to make sure that all the member schools are healthy, thriving, and vibrant,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While success has certainly followed Leach in his career, challenges have also been a part of Leach\u2019s life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 2002, I started experiencing facial twitching and just this intense and sharp pain. The doctors diagnosed me with Bell\u2019s palsy, which was interesting because the pain was extreme, and one doesn\u2019t have pain with Bell\u2019s palsy,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the facial paralysis and pain returned, Leach visited an ear, nose, and throat specialist after moving to Virginia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was properly diagnosed with a Schwannoma tumor at the University of Virginia. I went in for a seven-hour surgery that went 11 1\/2 hours,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Non-cancerous, Schwannoma is a rare type of tumor that forms in the nervous system. Leach later learned that the tumor was much larger than anticipated and had grown into the base of his brain. A second surgery to remove more of the tumor would leave Leach with permanent facial paralysis, some vision loss, and only about 10% of hearing in his right ear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Leach, due to dedicated physicians at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, he underwent a game-changing third surgery that restored his hearing to around 80%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leach said his faith and relationship with God helped him through this challenging season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had a conversation with God after my surgery and told him I was here to do whatever he needed me to,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt changed me and how I dealt with others and treated people. I realized that this life is a precious gift. Years later, people ask if I would change things, and I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d go back because it shaped me into the person I am today. There are difficult times, but it\u2019s overcoming that. It\u2019s interesting because people who know me say they don\u2019t even notice it anymore because they say it\u2019s just me they see, not the paralysis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether overseeing a National Sports Conference, serving for a nonprofit, or being a devoted father and husband, Leach said it\u2019s all about doing his best each day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m just me,\u201d he said. \u201cI try to wake up every day and do my best. I genuinely care about people. It\u2019s interesting because I am a diehard introvert and like to be alone to recharge. However, I\u2019m in a very extroverted job. I love investing in people, trying to bring out positive change, and always leaving people better than I found them. And a lot of that\u2019s just my upbringing. My dad and mom were the same way. It\u2019s the example they set that I can carry out and try to do as well.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ERIC LEACH is a busy guy. A father of two boys, husband, community servant, and successful businessman, his days often start early and end late. While his responsibilities are many, you\u2019ll never find him too busy to take a minute for someone. He knows the value of taking time to listen and the importance of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":20490,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/bowling-green\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/08\/2-1024x683.png\")