Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Tommy Hottovy 2020
All
professional sports leagues are gearing up to start some sort of
season with the next few weeks. Some are attempting to end seasons
and start playoffs, others ready to begin new years.
The Toronto
Blue Jays checked into their hotel in downtown Toronto last night. It
did not appear to be a time of smiles and chuckles. It was all
business, with a hint of deep concern. There are many players on
Major League Baseball teams who have tested positive for the Corona
virus; however, players, management and the fans are forging ahead
with preparation for the season. Some players, notably David Price
who once pitched for the Jays, have opted out for the 2020 season.
More than 7
years ago, I had the good fortune to meet Tommy Hottovy. He was
taking in the sights at the Edison and Ford Estates in Fort Myers,
Florida. His Dad worked there, and Tommy and his family were
visiting. The column I wrote about him appeared in The Times in March
that year, and is available at the sportslices.blogspot.com
site. I also wrote about him in April, 2016. There is a little
rectangular box in the upper left corner of the site. Type in any
name. If I have written about that person, an article should appear.
Tommy
is now 38 years old, and has just completed the battle of his life.
Despite taking every precaution he could think of, he contracted
COVID 19. He had no underlying health conditions, simply a young guy
in great shape. He now works as the pitching coach of the Chicago
Cubs.
I
picked up his report from another web site, relaying news from
NBCSports. Tommy reported that “for the first five or six days, I
had a fever, but then it really hit. The problem was, on days 8 to
14, it crushed me. It got into my lungs. I got the full effect of
what they call COVID 19 pneumonia,
shortness of breath, trouble breathing, constant fevers. My
temperature was more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit for six straight
days”.
He
was treated and released from hospital on the same day. But it took
30 days before he tested negative. He indicated that he had a
“stretch of depression” during that time. Perfectly
understandable.
Hottovy
passed on a message to all concerned. “If you're young and healthy,
you can get it. It can be serious, and it can have long term effects,
even after the worst of it is over.” The most serious cases require
a tube placed into one's throat, followed by a hook up to a
ventillator.
All
of us have experienced mixed emotions about the COVID19. As a nation,
we have worked hard to keep as safe as can be expected. We discovered
that residents in long term home facilities were particularly
vulnerable. We can only hope that we learn from our mistakes.
Hottovy
will be back on Wrigley Field in Chicago this week. No doubt that he
will wear a mask. Just makes good sense, for everyone.
July
6, 2020
James
Hurst
# posted by James Hurst @ 8:26 AM 
