From Adversity Comes Strength

Napolean Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich, wrote that from every negative or adverse experience comes an equivalent benefit.  Another way of saying look for the good in everything.

We all know that's easier said than done, especially as parents.  You find out how truly vulnerable you are in life when you have children.  You want to do everything to shield them from life's rough patches, you want to soften the blow when life deals one of those unfair "why me" moments.

We recently experienced one of those very moments just this past week at our son's lacrosse game.  As  senior captain on the team, he was looking forward to enjoying a great season with his friends and teammates.  While the team was playing its second game of the season, Alex was blindsided by a vicious check that left him unconscious and fractured his jaw.  Our baby was broken. Season over.

I watched in disbelief as the play unfolded, and after what seemed like a time delay of 5 minutes but was more like 5 seconds, hopped the fence to be by his side as he lay motionless and unconscious on the field.  All the thoughts well up inside of you, "Is he going to be OK,  Is he paralyzed,  Is his neck broken".  After about two minutes with his eyes rolling back in his head, he regains consciousness and begins moving,  he's still unsure of where he is or what happened but I can at least exhale. I kept telling myself he's fine, he's fine while the tears, anger, and frustration all welled up inside me. How do you explain to him that this makes any sense or is fair after he's invested so much time and energy just to play his last high school season.

After leaving the hospital with the diagnosis of the broken jaw and hearing the news that his mouth would be wired shut for 4-6 weeks, you try to move forward.  Look to the future. You try to turn the page on the senselessness, violence, and that the entire play and act was unnecessary.  You try to reason with yourself, your son, and your family that injuries are part of sports and that things like this happen, but deep down they don't happen to you, they don't happen to your baby.

Times like this is where we earn the big bucks as parents. When we ourselves our rattled, we must turn our fear into fortitude.  When Alex was in the emergency room afterwards, his coach and teammates came to visit and were truly amazing in lifting all our spirits. The simple act of saying that you care, that you are not alone, is inspirational.

We as a family are all a little broken now, but with the help of family, friends, coaches, and teammates we will heal. The positives are a little hard to see now but I know they're out there. As we look for the silver lining, it may be simply that the injury could have been much worse, that he will heal, recover and be good as new.

With Love,

Tom Kaufmann
Coach K