My son, Eric, really enjoys playing football.  He has been playing since he was in 3rd grade.  Not always did he have fun at a young age, but as he has matured, football has become his favorite sport.  In the early years his team lost more games than they won, in fact most of the games they lost.  Last year it looked to be more of the same when they got beat in the first game.  The next game at home looked dismal when the visitors scored quickly with ease.  Then it happened.  The game turned and my son’s team got the victory.  And then it grew.  They finished their 8th grade season 5-1.

With all their success that winning fever continued to grow.  Add in a new coach and the anticipation for the 2017 season has been exciting to say the least.  Eric prepared all summer with his team in weight lifting and conditioning for his Freshman year in football.  The new coach has been pushing the kids harder and they love it.

During the preseason scrimmage Eric got a stinger and his arm went numb for an extended period of time.  Much longer than the normal 3 – 15 seconds for a typical stinger.  After seeing the docs we held him out of the first Varsity game on Friday and the Junior Varsity game on the following Monday.  It was driving my son nuts, because he really wanted to be on the field, so by Thursday the docs went ahead and released Eric to play.  On Friday at the next Varsity game Eric got in for 2 plays, however, on the following Monday at the Junior Varsity game Eric played the whole game.  His shoulder injury got worse.  But he still practiced Tuesday and Wednesday.  After realizing the pain he was in, I observed his range of motion and I could definitely tell something was not right.  The very next morning I went in with Eric to see coach and show him what we were seeing.  Coach proclaimed, “Yeah, that’s not right and we need to get him healed up.”  I finally got him in to see a doctor on Friday and we got an MRI scheduled for that day.

After the MRI results were shared with us I knew we needed to see an Orthopedist.  We just got out of the meeting with the Orthopedist where we found out Eric is now done for the season.  He has nerve damage and we have now been referred to a spine specialist.  Good news is he does have full range of motion and has feeling in his arm and the muscles and bones are fine.  However the nerves will need some time to heal up.

Once Eric and I heard the news that he won’t be able to play football this season and possibly basketball, tears were shed.  More by me I think.  I’m not that dad that says my son has to play every down or be the star player.  My son is a team player and I am proud to see him give his very best effort and desire for him to enjoy the game, so it saddens me to watch my son go through the disappointment of not getting to play.

After the appointment, we went to tell coach, and his words of wisdom impacted me more then he knows.  He was not surprised that Eric is out for the season, but when he said, “God has a plan.” I knew he was right.  We are a strong Christian family, but to hear a young coach who I don’t really know say that I was impressed and comforted at the same time.

Eric is very talented musically.  Both he and his younger brother sing Barbershop with me.  Eric has perfect pitch, something I’ve never had.  I see Eric using his musical talent for the Lord.  So yeah, I know God has a plan.  It was just good to hear coach say it.

All this being said, it is tough when life throws you a curve ball.  I was thrown a huge curve ball in 2016 that threw me off track from my weight loss plan and if you have read my other Blogs you already know all about it.  This one, however, is only minor setback.  Both my son and I will make it through this issue we must deal with.  And this time I will not allow the curve ball to knock me off the Weight Loss plan.  I will get back down to 200 lbs. so I can be healthier for my boys and my wife.

Moving on down the scale, Thomas.