Sunday, January 15, 2006

Take a Deep Breath ...

Sometimes, the impact of medical advances isn't brought home to a person so much by the headlines of revolutionary new vaccines and surgical procedures, as much as it is by small, personal observations ...

That happened to me, this week ...

Some of you may be old enough to remember a kid in school with asthma ... someone who had to sit out phys-ed, sitting in the bleachers and doing homework or reading a book, while the rest of ran up and down the field or the gym floor ...

The times, they are a-changin' ...

Earlier today, my older boy, Andrew, and I watched Jerome Bettis running over, around and through the Indianapolis Colts as he helped the Pittsburgh Steelers earn a place in the American Football Conference championship game, next week in Denver. Bettis is an asthmatic, and follows a strict, daily regimen to keep his condition under control as he pursues one of the more remarkable careers in pro football ...

In the past, Bettis has also spoken publicly about that condition, and has encouraged others to develop what he calls an "asthma game plan" in order to pursue an active lifestyle.


One of those touched by Bettis' outreach is Andrew, who has had to cope with asthma since early childhood. Last night, he played a full half of indoor soccer as goalie (shutting out the other team), then switched jerseys and played striker in the second half ... and scored a hat trick.

It was an exciting game that left ME more breathless than he was at the final buzzer!

1 comment:

Jeff said...

Eric, they just might ... they just might ... Coach Craig Yenzer at Midland High has commented before that he really appreciates soccer players trying football because they have such great stamina ... comes from running up and down the field for two 30- to 45-minute periods, with only a 10-minute break at the half ...

I want to have that kind of stamina when I grow up!

Of course, I wouldn't mind having the big bucks, too :-)