CBC-Sports

Unexpected diagnosis heeds positive advice

March 6, 2009 03:24 PM | Posted by   Kelly Hrudey  

A man I consider a very good friend told me a story about his son recently that reinforced my opinion about most athletes.

Dr. Vause is the executive director of the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC) here in Calgary. The centre does an amazing job of getting adolescent kids with very serious addiction problems well again.

This is very hard and challenging work so Dr. Vause and his staff should be very proud for saving lives and families.

I’ve known Dr. Vause and his family for around 10 years now and have watched their son Taylor grow up and become a top young hockey prospect, now with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League.

Unexpected diagnosis

Well not long ago, while on a road trip, Taylor confided to his parents, Dean and Joanne, that he was feeling overwhelmed and really lethargic. He attributed that to being a rookie in the WHL.

A doctor’s examination was scheduled and young Taylor discovered he will be faced with a life with Type 1 diabetes. This requires four daily shots to manage its effects plus coping strategies for the stress which accompanies a disease of this nature.

The support shown by the Broncos should not be a surprise to anyone either. I’ve known the general manager/coach Dean Chynoweth for many years and he’s a man of integrity as is the assistant GM Sheldon Ferguson, one of my coaches in Medicine Hat.

Kind words from strangers

As difficult as it must be to learn your child has Type 1 diabetes, Dean and Joanne’s spirits were lifted, when not long after the diagnosis, Taylor received two encouraging phone calls from two members of the National Hockey League who both live with the same affliction.

NHL Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Clarke and Florida Panthers defenceman Nick Boynton both offered words of hope and inspiration to Taylor, a first-year, Bronco centre.

Dr. Vause’s face lit up when he relayed the stories to me and how these two gentlemen will probably never quite know the positive effect their kind words had on Taylor in a time of uncertainty.

Cheers to Bobby and to Nick for coming through for my friend Taylor.

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