An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

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DougG
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An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby DougG » Wed May 22, 2013 6:07 am

I saw this story in today's online paper :(
.MARCHMONT — Rick Ball had his sights set on the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Now all he wants is to be healthy again.

“This is my spot, right here,” the single-leg amputee and record-holding marathon runner said with a twinkle in his eye as he popped up the footrest and fell back onto the black, leather sofa in his sunny Marchmont living room. “I am so sick of this chair,” he said with a laugh.

Ball, 46, has been hit by two cars on separate occasions on Coldwater Road in Orillia.

After the first incident in 1986, during which he was on a motorcycle, he lost his left leg below the knee. After the second incident, which happened in August while he was riding his bike, he had reconstructive surgery on his right arm. The 18-year-old who hit him was charged under the Highway Traffic Act. Neither accident caused him as much pain as that of the bone infection he’s currently battling.

Ball’s rehabilitation had been going well. He had been doing light training runs and was about to start back at his job as a subway mechanic in Toronto when he woke up with a fever one night in late January.

“I had a pain in my right side,” he said. “My shoulder froze up and that’s how it all started.”

When Ball’s right arm was fractured in the second accident, the bone pierced through his skin and dragged along the road. Although the doctors did the best they could to clean it up, some debris must have been left behind.

He’s been hooked up to an antibiotic intravenous drip for 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the past two months. When the infection was at its worst, the pain shot up his neck and through his head.

“I’d be sleeping most of the time because I had no energy,” said Ball.

A nurse comes to his home every three days to change the line in his drip. He’s still seeing a sports medicine doctor, orthopedic surgeon and infectious disease specialist. “It’s like learning to walk,” Ball joked.

And he’d know.

“I never thought I’d have to do it again. It’s like déjà vu,” he said. “Give me a break.”

Last year was a difficult one for the local athlete, whose dream of joining Team Canada and competing at the Paralympic Games in London was dashed by a torn calf muscle that prevented him from attending trials in Calgary.

Ball — who competed in the 2011 Parapan American Games in Mexico, where he finished fifth in the 400-metre sprint — realizes he may never be able to train at the elite level again.

“If my body physically won’t let me compete at that level, I don’t want to do it,” he said. “I can’t do it.”

But that doesn’t mean he wants to give up on running.

“I love it. It’s my passion,” he said.

Before the infection, but already armed with life experience, Ball travelled to local schools talking about perseverance and overcoming obstacles.

“I’m telling students ... not to give up,” he said. “Now I’ve got to do the same.”

Right now, he’s focusing on short-term goals. He wants to get back to work.

“Every day is the same ... It’s getting old,” said Ball, who is still too weak to get back into the routine.

“I just want to get healthy. The running, I’ll worry about after,” he said.

“I would love to continue doing it. I don’t want to quit.”

 

2014
injured
2013
Snowflake 10k....stopped at 5k
Rest of the year a write off because of injury.
2012
Snowflake 10k Jan 1 done
Run 4 Kids 10k Jan 7 done
Harry's Spring Run Off 8k. April 8 a disaster, but I finished
Centurion 50k at Horseshoe Valley (cycling) done
Centurion 50 miler at Blue Mountain (cycling) done.....barely!
Snowflake 5k, Dec 16 - done
2011
Harry Rosen 8k. April. done
Rotary 5k fun run. May. done
CANI 10k. June. done
Canada Day 10k. July. done
Barrie Waterfront 5k. Aug. done
CANI 10 k. Oct. done
Base Borden Army Run 10k. done

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DLS
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby DLS » Wed May 22, 2013 6:22 am

Rick is so inspiring -- I'm sending him my RM vibes!

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La
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby La » Wed May 22, 2013 6:43 am

That's not a very happy update. :( But if anyone is the poster child for picking yourself up and never giving up, it's Rick. Speedy healing vibes to him!
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jes
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby jes » Wed May 22, 2013 6:44 am

I was just thinking about him the other day and wondering how he was doing. Sorry it's not a happier update :(
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Habs4ever » Wed May 22, 2013 7:09 am

Thoughts and prayers for Rick. :(
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby trixiee » Wed May 22, 2013 7:11 am

Oh man, that's so tough!

Healing vibes headed your way Rick.

You have the Orange Nation rooting for your improved health!
http://connect.garmin.com/profile/trixiee14

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mas_runner
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby mas_runner » Wed May 22, 2013 8:30 am

Tough break for Rick. Get well soon!
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Jo-Jo » Wed May 22, 2013 8:45 am

sorry to read this...bone infections are not something to fool with :(
Sending Rick some healing vibes.
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An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Jwolf » Wed May 22, 2013 8:49 am

I hope he recovers quickly. :(
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orleansrunner1962
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby orleansrunner1962 » Wed May 22, 2013 8:49 am

Sending Rick some Orange Power -- his great attitude will get him through this! :D
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Miss*Smiles » Wed May 22, 2013 9:23 am

Thinking about you Rick and sending you some healing vibes!!
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Engmomma » Wed May 22, 2013 9:42 am

Get well Rick.
The Summer of Eng is over.

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DonnaRigs
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby DonnaRigs » Wed May 22, 2013 9:47 am

That sucks! Poor Rick - sending all the vibes I can!
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby ultraslacker » Wed May 22, 2013 10:02 am

That sucks. :/ I hope he recovers soon.
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby fe.RMT » Wed May 22, 2013 10:19 am

I was thinking about him the other day as well. Sad to read this update, but his 'carry on' attitude is evident at the end of this article! I will keep him in my thoughts for sure
The rumours are true......

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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Darth Tater » Wed May 22, 2013 12:05 pm

Lots of positive vibes for Rick's recovery.
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby drghfx » Wed May 22, 2013 12:17 pm

I hope you get well quickly Rick.
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby jgore » Wed May 22, 2013 1:38 pm

That really sucks. I hope he's able to bounce back and get back to doing what he loves.

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MikeM
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby MikeM » Wed May 22, 2013 2:43 pm

Hope that you recover quickly!

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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby QuickChick » Wed May 22, 2013 4:51 pm

Aw, that's awful news. I'm sending all the positive energy I can... all the best for his recovery. He is a resilient guy and I know if this can be beaten, he'll beat it. Get well soon Rick!
"Don’t let negativity rent space in your brain for free. That is how you become a badass…by excavating her from inside you. You don’t have to become someone else. You need to identify the effing awesome parts of you that are your tools to work with, and maximize those." -Lauren Fleshman

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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Tisha » Wed May 22, 2013 5:49 pm

Thanks for posting this update on Rick. Sending vibes from here as well. He's been such an inspiration to so many people. Myself included.

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An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby Kelodie » Wed May 22, 2013 8:27 pm

I'm sorry to read this update. I can't believe how unlucky you've been, Rick. It must be very tough to go through this! Hang in there. We have your back.
"Keep Going. Never Give Up" - Spencer
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby DJHL » Wed May 22, 2013 9:19 pm

That is such tough luck. Here's hoping that Rick is able to shake this off soon and be able to get back to both work and running.
2013

Get back to a regular exercise routine

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phorunner
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby phorunner » Wed May 22, 2013 9:47 pm

Wow, was just wondering what happened to him. That sucks. I wish him all the best.

2012 Bread and Honey 5k: 27:30
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Re: An update on Rick Ball - he's having a tough time

Postby chunkymonkeymelonhed » Wed May 22, 2013 11:19 pm

Sad to read this.

Sending tons of orange vibes to Rick. Speedy recovery!!!
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