Just hours after watching his team make a miraculous (in a
sports context)comeback, Pat Neshek's world came crashing down. His son, only 23 hours old, passed away. There was no rhyme, no reason for what
happened. In a matter of hours, the elation
and joy that Neshek was experiencing in both his professional and personal
lives had come to a screeching halt. I
can't even begin to imagine what going through such a horrific event would be
like. I am a father of three and to
think of the unthinkable happening to them is excruciating. Neshek and his wife, Stefanee, have gone from
being on top of the world to having to pull themselves up from the most
devastating of tragedies. Instead of
asking how life can get any better, they have to be wondering when life will
get better.
For the foreseeable future, I am sure they will feel like it
will never get any better. They will
have to deal with their grief, with the people who mean well but aren't really
helping, and the awkward silences from people who don't know what to say. Inevitably, someone who has never lost a child
at birth or shortly after will tell them they know what they are going through,
yet don't. And in all of that, Pat
Neshek will have to make a decision about when is the right time to return to
baseball. If he doesn't this year, who
could blame him? It would have to be virtually
impossible to stay focused on a game when you are dealing with tragedy. On the other hand, many athletes find the
best way to deal with tragedy is to get back to the their team and make a
contribution. If he does that, who could
blame him? After all, everyone is
different and deals with loss in their own way.
Whatever decision he makes should be met with support and well wishes.
Just writing this, I still can't fathom the hell he and his
wife must be going through. I had
intended to work on a different blog today but when I read this story, I had to
write about it and do what little I could to pass on prayers for Pat and
Stefanee. Before you go to bed to night,
please remember this family in your prayers.
Hug your sons and daughters. Tell
them that you love them. Show them how
much they mean to you and don't ever take it for granted. And
if the baseball world has any justice, maybe Pat Neshek will be pitching in the
late innings of the final game of the World Series, mowing down hitters, and
helping the Oakland A's win a championship.
I know, winning a baseball game could never replace his son, but if winning
on the field helps him and his wife heal from their loss off of it, then it
wouldn't just be a game for them. So, here's
to you, Pat and Stafanee Neshek. Surely
brighter days are ahead.