Part 9: The first promising doc's visit

“What has he done in the past two months?” Colby’s doctor asked his mother.

“Well, he has been burning the midnight oil, working harder than – well, even I have wanted him to. He wants to get that cast off as soon as possible, and he hasn’t liked what you have said about how long his leg will be in that cast.” Avery said, partially proud of her hard-working son and partially worried that what the doctor was going to tell her was that Colby had thwarted the healing process of his leg.

“He has been doing a very good job. I haven’t seen bones heal at this rate in a long time. Apparently, he has been dedicating himself in every aspect to getting better. His bones have already realigned themselves into the correct position and, to make it even more amazing, they have already begun building new bone and reconnecting the pieces. What has his diet been like?”

“Milk all the time, doubling his dairy intake and craving meat, but I think that last part is because he has been training so hard too. Do you think he has a chance to get out of his cast this summer?”

“At this rate, it is tough to say. What I can say is this: my first determination was based on normal circumstances, and there was a chance that Colby might not ever walk – or walk easily again. Now, the circumstances suggest that it wasn’t a matter of if or how hard it would be for Colby to walk again as it is a question of when he will. If he keeps doing whatever he is doing, it’s tough to say, but he might be out of that cast by the end of August.

“End… of August?” Avery said, knowing that the U.S. Amateur was scheduled for the end of August. Colby was going to need at least some time to work with his caddy, work on his swing, and work on the mental game. Colby wasn’t going to do well hearing that. “Can you do me a favor?” Avery asked the doctor.

“That depends on what it is.”

“Don’t tell Colby that. It would break his heart if he couldn’t play in a golf event, scheduled for the end of August. He needs as much hope and prayer as he can get.” Avery’s soft eyes were full of concern, but the doctor nodded, turned, then walked a few steps, then disappeared behind the corner in the white hall of the hospital. It was almost as if the doctors around here were trained to blend in and disappear in the blink of an eye like that.

“I need to call Cappy, let him in on the news, not to excite him or anything, just to let him know we aren’t completely lost of hope for playing in the U.S. Amateur!” Colby said as Avery started up the van. It had been fitted to suit and load up Colby in his wheelchair, at a very expensive cost. Fancy metal and motors surrounded the old back seats of the van, the same van that played ‘Golf mom’ for Avery when Colby was in his teens and ripping up the turf all around Maine. People said it wasn’t a matter of when he would play against professional golfers as much as it was a question of when. Avery immediately recalled her visit with the doctor.

“We don’t need to call him yet, why don’t we wait a few weeks, maybe after the next doctor visit?” Avery said, trying to calm Colby down. It would break his heart if he knew that the doctor didn’t think it was possible for him to have his leg out of that cast by August. It would further break Avery’s heart to see Colby in such low spirits when he has been so high in hopes for the past few months.

“Whatever, it doesn’t matter, really. I am playing in the tournament, wheelchair or not. I would just play better if I could stand up to take the shots!” Colby said sarcastically. “So either way, I will need Cappy for my caddy!”