Play through the pain

Good morning. Hope that your holiday weekend was full of family, friends, and love.



On to the question.....sports hernia, torn muscle, or head case....



The answer is.....torn muscle....and here we go....

Before we left to see Michael Jordan of hernia repairs, we could not find the original MRI that disclosed that there was nothing wrong with the abdomen. As Yoda said: "with the symptoms and pain, you have something going on."

Yep, Yoda, you are always right. So, we tore the house apart looking for the MRI, gave up and drove separately to the city. The plan was that the big kid would return to campus after the appointment, take his accounting test and hopefully pass it, and get ready to face the next series of games.



We could not have been more wrong.

Sitting in the office for more than 6 hours, my resolve to work out yesterday was wavering as was the decision to stop drinking my evening glass of wine...I gave in to one.....not to work out. The wine sits in its bottle unopened.

Anyway, he first had an athletic assessment that took an hour. The therapists were not pleased with the way that he looked as a pitcher.


As I sat in the waiting room, ESPN was on the television.....the entire 6 hours was about baseball and who recovered from this injury or that injury. On the walls were future Hall of Fame jerseys signed by the athletes whose careers were saved by the good doc.

The next step was another MRI. When he limped back, he mentioned something about his hips hurting and that they must be out of alignment because he was extremely uncomfortable while lying on the table.

The next phase was to see MJ's assistant who is a nice guy and also understands core issues. He performed a physical and asked scores of questions. As he walked out of the room, we looked at each other and concurred that he needed an injection and would be back on the mound this weekend.....wrong....

The big guy walked into the room and he is a big man. It is obvious that he was athletic as he gave his abbreviated resume to us.

His research, how he makes a diagnosis, and treatment options were impressive. He spoke of a multitude of issues and here is where we were dumbfounded.....

He started by comparing one of the bones as a  baseball...Ok, you have us......

Long story short...he has a torn muscle....his hips have an impingement ( most hockey players have it and do not require surgery), and needs surgery to repair the muscle. He explained everything thoroughly and I was immediately convinced that this was the course of action. However, whether he has the surgery or not, his college playing days are over.

This is the hardest part. Or is it?

Back to the meeting.....MJ told him that if he continued to play, he would ruin his arm. That's it.

As MJ spoke, the kid got a bit emotional but held it together. Then he said: "Can't do this tomorrow, I have an accounting test, tutoring, and a big project."

I looked at MJ and said: "see you tomorrow." Then I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to calm him and talk him into surgery. Am I a bad mom? Maybe. But, I was incredibly calm, looked at the data presented, and knew that this was the only way to go. Plus, MJ was going to perform the surgery and based on his jerseys on the walls, he knows what he is doing when it comes to athletes and core issues.

After the conversation, the kid had to have a series on injections which took over an hour. Yikes....needle after needle.....he was a sore puppy after this part of the process.

On to the business office....I was asked to stop by to see the office manager. AS I sat in the chair, she went over the bill.....Whew...pricey.....

Then she spoke some more.....

"It is $hundreds$ for this visit."



Ok

"Then the tests and so on that were performed are $thousands$$$$"

Wow

"The surgery, anesthesia, and medication will cost $thousands$$$$$$."




Cough....

"Your total is more money that you have in your wallet."

gulp.

Now it was my turn to speak....."that's a lot of money. Do you take Personal choice?"

Ma'm, PC will pay for the imaging and one of the tests. We will submit the rest of the bill, but they will not pay it.

"Well, then....are you asking for the money now?"

I actually knew the answer so I excused myself and immediately called dad. "They want $thousands$$$$$$$ right now. Not tomorrow...now....what do I do?"

After a semi calm discussion, I went back to the woman and tried to put a down payment on the charges with the promise of bringing a check on the day of surgery.

Guess what?

Oh yeah...my two credit cards were declined. Embarrassed, I was certain that something was wrong....very wrong....let me check on it. Calling dad, he was no longer semi calm.....he moved into the opposite direction of calm....

Going back to the business office, I felt like a major deadbeat mom. "Can I bring the money tomorrow?"

Kindly and knowing that I was incredibly mortified, she said that I could pay in the morning by check. I then swore that I had money...really I do...I am not sure why the cards did not work except for......

Tax season!

That's right! Tax season!

During tax season, the bills are pushed aside and paid at the last possible moment. This is the way we operate. Sadly....or not. Usually, I am not handed a $thousands$$$$ health care bill and asked to pay for it within 12 hours. This is scary. What do people do who do not have access to this kind of money? I guess they are not operated on and have to deal with the pain. Will ObamaCare pay for it? How about the university? The injury happened on their watch with the lifting after throwing.

On a positive note, I have now exceeded my insurance deductible meaning that I no longer have co pays or have to pay out of pocket. That's a benefit, eh?

One of the reasons the kid was so upset is because.....you won't believe it.....

He was afraid that he was going to be screamed at by the coaches for this injury. Seriously, dude? You give a flying fig about what the coaches are going to say and how they are going to say it? This is major league bullying at its finest.

After the appointment, we parted ways and went off to process the day's events.....

He did not return home until 9pm which was a bit scary, but here is what happened.....

He went off to think in his favorite place. Not being sure, I figured that he went to his high school. Afterwards, the trainer called him and he told him to come back to campus and the university will not pay for him to go to MJ. A soccer player had the surgery and never returned to the team since his team was not abated.

He wanted him to come back for treatment. Uh huh.

Here is where we are today. The trainer called back and the university doctors want to speak to MJ. OK, this is political, fine.

The coaches want him to rest and play through the pain.

What does BPM want? Well, I want the trainer, coaches and university doctors to get their noses out of our business. I don't care if the university will pay for it. I don't want his treatment to be compromised because they want him to pitch. It ain't happening....no way.

Therefore, the surgery is scheduled for Thursday. He will be better than ever. College baseball is over. He never has to lift or follow their antiquated protocols again, and finally get his chance in another way.

Anyway you look at it, he had a life changing outing in South Carolina when the announcers called  him Andy Petitte. He will continue to move toward his goal taking another road. Any way we look at it, I am proud of the way he has tackled adversity and know that he is going to be a success no matter where life leads him.

Gotta work....

Peace

Sports hernia or not?

Howdy. It's the day before Easter and we have had an Easter miracle. Yes, miracle number one was Jesus rising from the dead. Miracle number two is that the big kid has an appointment with the Michael Jordan of hernia repairs on Monday. That's right. Begging works.....really. Try it some time.



With that said, the kid came home last night and I enjoyed the banter with him and his dad as they watched SEC baseball together on ESPN. From the pitcher on the mound whom the kid threw against last summer to the team gossip, they had a nice time just chatting about baseball.



I found out a few things.....first, the Czar continues to put guys on the mound whose ERA are greater than 6. Are we saying "let's tank this year for the first round draft pick?" Naw, that's professional sports. Think about it......


Fade to black.....

You are a blue chip prospect who can attend college anywhere in the US, will you choose a program that has a pitching staff with an ERA higher than the number of wins? Uh, no.

You are a blue chip prospect who can attend college anywhere in the US, will you come to a program whose number of errors are higher than the number of runs scored all year? Uh no.

You are a blue chip prospect who can attend college anywhere in the US, will you choose a program that has a starting player whose batting average is less than .100? Uh no.

And so, this year is looking dismal as is next year and the year after.....

On to the MRI report.....I know, based upon history of working with this hospital that the radiologist did not completely read it. I am looking forward to Monday's appointment which will last four hours to hear what MJ has to say. Once again, if the report is wrong, I will not look under the sofa cushions for extra change and set up a lemonade stand out front of the house, but submit the bill to the coaches and trainers.


The question that I consider almost every day is whether I would do it again. By that, I mean, would I send the kid to this program for his college baseball? Based upon what was promised and how the training was presented, the answer is hmmmm. Yet, the reality is that the promises were not forthcoming. The training in one of the best universities in the country was sub par as was the medical care. BUT, he received an amazing education, which at the end of the day is what he needed most of all. So, the answer to the question is 'yes.' However, if I had a crystal ball that would have shown me that troubles and angst of what was to come, I think that another program would have better suited his needs. Hind sight....20-20 vision.....

With that said, it is good to have everyone under the same roof through the holiday, but I would rather be in Ohio watching my boy throw the ball at 90 mph.

One last word.....the team that the guys played in Texas early in the season is now ranked number one. I believe it. I have watched lots of baseball, but this team was extraordinary as were the fans. One fan held a fishing line with scissors over the dug out. The 'dig' was that the scissors were to cut the players' hair.


 The guys on our team have a propensity to grow their hair long. It's a statement....or ten...who knows.

Time to hit the gym....

Peace!~

Zen-itude

Good Friday morning....it's Easter weekend for the BP mom family and the big lefty is coming home and not going to Ohio with the team.....



Hmmmm......

What is going on? Well, as you know, he has a groin injury and is moving around like a chimp. He is sore, in pain, and miffed.

Miffed?

Not hostile?

Nope.

Not murderous?



No.

Not vengeful?

Uh uh.

Such a paradigm shift, right?

Correct.

As we sat in Wegmans on Wednesday eating pizza before the MRI, he was in a good place. He was not seeking to make anyone pay.

"Mom, I am letting it go. Focusing on positive things. The universe will take care of these guys."

Who are you and what did you do with my son? You are way too calm for me. I am not sure how to handle this new found Zen-itude.

However, I like it because the anger has moved on to the realization that we need to have an accurate picture of what is going on, hence the MRI. Focus on what is happening now.

After the MRI, he hobbled off to the field and I picked up the films and results. The results were:

non conclusive....no sports hernia per the radiologist who read the film....yet the kid is in excruciating pain. The doctor suggested rest.....and rest....and rest.....

On to Yoda....He called Yoda and described the results of the MRI and his plan of action. Yoda was incredulous. "Based upon your symptoms, the reading has to be wrong."

Hmmmm......

Yoda also concurred with Dr. G to keep the appointment with the Michael Jordan of hernia repairs, since he is the best in the business.

And so, the kid got through MJ's line with the help of Dr. G and has an appointment scheduled for 4/13....which he thinks is too late. So, he threw himself on the mercy of the receptionist and begged her to make the appointment sooner. "Please, oh please...this is my senior year. I have to get back onto the mound. My time is running out."

AS of this point, he has not heard from the office yet to schedule an appointment sooner. He waits....and waits.....

As he spoke to the receptionist the first time, she shared the policy of the office...."You come to us...have an MRI done here.....then an examination....if you need it, you will have surgery the next day....then you will follow without fail, the rehab process and schedule."

Ok, we will do it...pinky swear...now, please see me tonight...oh please.

Who knows what will happen, but I see an Easter miracle coming. So stay tuned.

other news....at the end of the game on Wednesday night, the team blew a tie to lose. They wasted two home runs. It happens.

The pitcher, Texas, was called to the mound after not pitching for several weeks, standing three hours in the cold dug out without little or no warm up. Oh, yeah, he also had to lift that morning.....so he was gassed before he was even warming up. Sadly, he imploded, the team lost. The Czar went nuts in the locker room, Fresnoed the entire team, then threw a table in front of the team and his son. He took a deep breath and went out to meet the cameras. This guy is something else.

Yesterday, they had a practice and he called Texas into his office. It is the policy of the university to hand out excuse cards for missing classes on Fridays for traveling. He asked Texas for his card back and abruptly said "you are not coming this weekend." End of conversation. It is Texas's birthday and what a gift. I told the big guy to bring him home for the weekend but his dad was already coming to see him pitch in Ohio. Instead, he will travel to the  mountains.

An interesting fact about Texas...when he entered this program, he threw 95 consistently. His velocity is down to 80. That is how they develop players...or don't.

With that said, no more negativity. Let's focus on figuring out what is wrong and getting the big kid back to the mound. As I said to him last night, "this behavior pattern from the coaching staff is the only consistent thing going on there. Do not expect anything more or less."

And now....off to Easter activities.....

Peace!

This guy stinks and other synonyms

Good afternoon....guess where I am? Yep.....if your guess is the mountains, you are absolutely correct!

I drove to campus today to render some support for my injured pitcher. Before I left, Betty sent a link to an article about a surgeon in my backyard who is the best in the business. More about him later....

Equipped with this knowledge and a grande iced green tea (unsweetened from Starbucks), I hit the open road with my car that still hesitates upon acceleration. Last week I brought it to the dealer who said "uh, nothing wrong here...." Now, I have another appointment next Wednesday to take it back.

Anyway, I sipped my iced tea and put the cruise control on in the car and started listening to some decent tunes when dad called.



"Are you ready for this one?"

Sure.....let me take another sip.....go ahead....



"Your son had breakfast with one of the freshman pitchers today."

K.....got some news about what they ate?

"They were talking about the big game next week against the team that your kid beat last year. You know, the nationally ranked team. The coaches sent him out to the mound to lose, yet he won."

Yep, I remember that one. I was there...I was cold....I was thrilled for the big guy as he dominated and on the way home, Tink and I grabbed an ice cream bar at a gas station to celebrate.



"Well, Psycho had been recruiting the kid who had breakfast with your son today and called him the day after the game. Here is the pitching coach's words to the recruit: 'yeah, we won a big game last night which surprised us 'cause the kid who pitched for us sucks.' "

Today, the frosh was shocked to hear that the winning pitcher last year who according to the coaches 'sucked' was the big lefty. In other words, Psycho threw him under the bus while trying to impress the recruit.

According to dad the lefty just laughed.

Yeah. I laughed all right. As I sipped my iced green tea (unsweetened), it spewed out of my mouth onto the windshield of the car.

Sucked, huh? Sucked? Really? Sucked?

It makes me sick and snicker. These guys would not know a quality player if he bit them in the butt. Just sayin'

Anyway, since that start, the suck-y pitcher has gone on to have the lowest era on the team and this year....no walks!

I just sigh...and keep typing.....

The mri is over and in  a few minutes, I have to go to the hospital to get a few copies for a second and third opinion.

Speaking of second opinion, Betty sent the information about the surgeon who is the best in the business or repairing sports hernias. Naturally, he is our guy. However, the big kid spoke to Yoda today about his injury. According to Yoda, this surgeon is the "Michael Jordan of Sports Hernia repairs." This is good news.

Now for the bad news...this doctor does not take health insurance according to Yoda. OK, Yoda, I am hoping that you are wrong about this fact. However, if he isn't wrong, I will have a big bill. Really big.....That's a great deal of change to find in the cushions of the sofa. Even more so, if I do BP mom math and get a second job as a barista in Starbucks, I could come up with the money in a few years...or decades....

Yeah. There goes the retirement fund....although, Yoda is a crafty one....He suggested that the university pays for it, since it is the third injury under their supervision.

Ahh, Yoda, time for BP ma's special cheesecake for you. How about chocolate?

Any way a person looks at it, the kid is out for a period of time. he is now accepting of the time off the mound and is no longer  angry. He is even philosophical as this injury may prevent him from more permanent injuries under these coaches and trainers. He can't work out anymore, so he cannot sustain any more injuries...ah, the silver lining.

After he limped back to the car, he said that his hips are out of alignment which is probably due to his body compensating for his groin injury. Sigh.

My last thought of the day is that you should read the Verducci article on the Texas ranch. He clearly makes a claim that this is the future of training pitchers. Uh huh....the information that my son tried to bring to the coaching staff and he was called a loser and ruined by the Pitching ranch....yet Tom Verducci claims the opposite after investigating the Pitching Doctor's technique.

Moral of this story: When presented with new information, review it, research it, but first read it with an open mind.

Perhaps there will be fewer injuries and a few more victories.

Off to the mri center......

Peace!