An extended hospital stay again this summer has proven once more that the best pick-me-up is indeed young people and, of course, basketball-related folks.
Off by ambulance I went to the Eastern Maine Medical Center where I began tests to figure out what ails me this time.
I couldn’t help but recall the night in January of 1984 when a similar malady landed me in a hospital room, this time for 38 days.
In 1984, unbeknownst to me, my John Bapst Memorial High School captains, Joe MacDonald and Pat Culumovic, had received school permission to have a school assembly in order to assign each and every student two, 10-minute visits to their coach.
What an amazing thing transpired in the corridors of the medical facility. In the annals of medical history here in Bangor, there has never been such a crowd.
Motivating yours truly to stay in education instead of choosing a business career, I was overwhelmed, to say the least.
Renal failure is serious business, and each day, every student at Bapst came to see me, morning, noon and night.
Culumovic, it should be pointed out, is still in the business of helping the sick. He is a colorectal surgeon in Greenville, S.C.
This visit to EMMC was accompanied by equally frightening ramifications. The irony of all this stuff is that once again, it was basketball and the many caring medical attendants who once again provided the motivation through their caring expertise and loving attitude to help the old coach get through.
Oh, there were no crowded streets of people and purple and white letter jackets, encouraging each other to help “fire up” the ailing coach.
This time, there were medical personnel, recognized as players from a day gone by, proud to be a former player, armed with basketball stories to uplift me, and, of course, a hoop story or two to boot.
Former players such as Mary Smith, a Sumner Memorial High School graduate, who excelled at softball and basketball, who enhanced her physical therapy duties with a warm personality and a keen wit. That helped make the rigorous sessions bearable for an old educator who needed to seek medical attention again in order to learn to walk.
On the rehab floor itself are former players of renown such as Alisha Johnston from Mount Desert Island, who figured prominently in the 2002 Class B title for the Lady Trojans.
Then there’s Abigail (Kunces) Foster, a former Gardiner Area High School star center, who has translated athletic ability and academic acumen into a successful career in medicine.
Abigail is a registered nurse with a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a certified nephrology degree.
Dialysis also has a nifty certified clinical hemo dialysis technician in Darcy (Hopkins) Furrow, who played her high school ball at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport. Like Abigail, Darcy has made the successful transition from player to nurse.
Former Penquis Valley High of Milo sharpshooter Megan Russell is a registered nurse at EMMC. Like her father, Wally Russell, she is a hoopster from top to bottom. In addition to her skill in medicine, she is competent at making her patients feel good — and that’s appreciated.
And finally, there’s occupational therapist Kelly (Waterman) Kokoska. The 4-year Bangor High School varsity hoop player is also at EMMC.
What a treat it is to do hard PT with someone as caring. Kelly’s father, Neil, played and coached at Bangor High.
As I sit here waiting to be sent home from the hospital, I can’t help but think how fortunate a city the size of Bangor is to have such a medical facility, filled with talented, caring people.
30-Second Time Out
Let’s talk Boston Celtics basketball.
The signing of head case, but talented, Rasheed Wallace reminds me of the days when the Celtics didn’t seem to care who they signed. They took chances, and now they may pay the price. Granted, Wallace is a legitimate player. Problem is, he has a notorious attitude dilemma.
Let’s hope he and Kevin Garnett don’t clash.