Please bare with me...
DD#2 (11 yo)was born with too much bone in her ankle (tarsal coalition). We knew she would have a surgery one day, just didn't know when. Well, this spring, the Doc said it was time. DD had been hurting a good bit in recent months.
The choice my wife and I had was, do the surgery now or after school. While I hated her spending most of the summer in a cast, it was the better option, as she would have missed several weeks of school.
I tried to talk her out of playing summer ball. She's been hurting so much just walking around at school. She wouldn't hear of it. She wanted to play as long as she could.
She doesn't have the natural ability as DD#1, but goodness do I admire her love of the game. She's 100% all the time. This year, she really took a step up and despite the bum foot, she was one of the better players in the league.
As the surgery got closer, I was really struggling with it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I figure it was guilt as to choosing the summer for the surgery, knowing how tough the recovery will be, and/or the fact that she might not play again, but I was a wreck all week.
The surgery was this past Friday. Tuesday's game was rained out. Down to one more game for her (Thursday). Well, the 12u coach called and asked for an extra player for a double header before our scheduled game. I asked DD and she was all for it. Keep in mind, this kid wears a boot nearly all day and takes it off just to play ball, then back in the boot. There was no danger of further damage, it's just a matter of the pain she can deal with. I told her I'd let her play the 1st game and we play the 2nd by ear.
She played all 3 games back to back to back. Got 2 hits for the 12u team as well. After the game, the girls presented her with a signed, team ball. They went outside the dugout and prayed for her.
I've coached a lot of rec ball games over the years. I've had many of proud moments with my players, but never have I had a moment like this night. It was all I could do to keep it together and I was probably the only dry eyes at the field.
Just a reminder about the good in softball. These kids, unknown to them, helped myself and my DD more than I'll ever be able to help them. It's been an honor to be their coach.
DD#2 (11 yo)was born with too much bone in her ankle (tarsal coalition). We knew she would have a surgery one day, just didn't know when. Well, this spring, the Doc said it was time. DD had been hurting a good bit in recent months.
The choice my wife and I had was, do the surgery now or after school. While I hated her spending most of the summer in a cast, it was the better option, as she would have missed several weeks of school.
I tried to talk her out of playing summer ball. She's been hurting so much just walking around at school. She wouldn't hear of it. She wanted to play as long as she could.
She doesn't have the natural ability as DD#1, but goodness do I admire her love of the game. She's 100% all the time. This year, she really took a step up and despite the bum foot, she was one of the better players in the league.
As the surgery got closer, I was really struggling with it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I figure it was guilt as to choosing the summer for the surgery, knowing how tough the recovery will be, and/or the fact that she might not play again, but I was a wreck all week.
The surgery was this past Friday. Tuesday's game was rained out. Down to one more game for her (Thursday). Well, the 12u coach called and asked for an extra player for a double header before our scheduled game. I asked DD and she was all for it. Keep in mind, this kid wears a boot nearly all day and takes it off just to play ball, then back in the boot. There was no danger of further damage, it's just a matter of the pain she can deal with. I told her I'd let her play the 1st game and we play the 2nd by ear.
She played all 3 games back to back to back. Got 2 hits for the 12u team as well. After the game, the girls presented her with a signed, team ball. They went outside the dugout and prayed for her.
I've coached a lot of rec ball games over the years. I've had many of proud moments with my players, but never have I had a moment like this night. It was all I could do to keep it together and I was probably the only dry eyes at the field.
Just a reminder about the good in softball. These kids, unknown to them, helped myself and my DD more than I'll ever be able to help them. It's been an honor to be their coach.
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