Austin Gets A Boot

The first baseball game of this season our twelve year old grandson Austin got to pitch.  He told us several weeks ago that he would be a pitcher this year and he was so excited.  The excitement rose as he walked onto the pitcher’s mound.  His parents and grandparents were both anxious and supportive.  He was very good on the mound and the game was 6-2 his team’s favor, in part because he was not allowing many players to get on base.  Then he was replaced with another pitcher and the team ended up losing the game.  The replacing of a pitcher is common practice in this league so that the player can be used again in the next game.

Several people mentioned to me that Austin had matured and that this year was going to be his year in sports!

Imagine our sorrow when he told his parents that during batting practice he was having terrible pains in his foot.  A trip to the podiatrist resulted in a diagnosis of Sever’s Apophysitis.  The most prominent symptom of Sever's disease is heel pain which is usually aggravated by physical activity such as walking, running or jumping. The pain is localized to the posterior and plantar side of the heel.  Sometimes, the pain may be so severe that it may cause limping and interfere with physical performance in sports. The external appearance of his heel is normal.  The main problem seems to be in his growth plate.  He is just growing too fast.



Austin Wearing His Boot

The good news is Sever’s disease is self-recovering, meaning that it will go away on its own when the foot is used less or when the bone is through growing. The condition is not expected to create any long-term disability, and expected to subside in 2–8 weeks.  The disease may also take several years to stop, because it is often triggered by growing too fast. It is more common in boys in the 9 to 11 age bracket.

Tracy, Chris and I Watch Austin's Brother Play Baseball

So Austin is now in a boot to hold the foot in place for the next 3 weeks.  He is to do no sports at all and is not to get the foot wet either.  It is sad for him, as his pitching career is sidelined for the time being.  Three weeks is a long time to wait when you are twelve and are the first string pitcher of your local team.

Have patience Austin.  Your day will return.  God is good.