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CALGARY — As inventive a storyteller as Rick Ball is, even he’s having a tough time believing the story he’s been spinning of late:
How a hen stealing his sandwich led to a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
We’ll let the Calgary Flames’ play-by-play man take it from there.
“That damn magpie,” chuckled the 56-year-old Sportsnet play caller on the Eric Francis Show. “I used to be enjoying in a golf event in Kelowna in late July and I used to be chasing a hen away that was stealing a sandwich from my cart.
“I’m working throughout the golf green, not taking note of something besides this rattling hen, and I stepped in a sprinkler gap and broke my fibula.
“Being the idiot that I am, I didn’t go to a doctor right away. I played three more rounds of golf and my leg is killing me. I come back to Calgary and I finally see the doctor, and he says, ‘you broke your leg you moron. Put this air cast on and come back in six weeks.’”
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After limping his approach by way of the summer season, the tall, slender Kelowna native flew to Arizona for eight days of mountaineering and merriment, earlier than returning to begin the season.
“I’m not an Olympic decathlete but I try to take care of myself, and a few days after we flew back I started to feel really fatigued — climbing up stairs was exhausting,” stated the previous radio host who’s in his ninth 12 months with the Flames, the place he has grow to be a beloved tandem mate for accomplice and pal Kelly Hrudey.
“I wondered if I had Covid. … Then one day I’m standing in the kitchen, thinking to myself, ‘if it’s like this tomorrow I’m going to the doctor.’ … Next thing you know I’m on the floor. The last thing I remember was, ‘oh crap, I’m going to pass out.”
Doctors later decided a blood clot that began in his leg had labored its approach up by way of his coronary heart and into his lung, prompting the kind of acute episode that may be lethal roughly 10 per cent of the time, with a mortality charge climbing to 30 per cent if not promptly handled.
“Next thing I remember was my wife (Carole) screaming, and that kind of woke me up,” stated Ball. “Thank god she was dwelling to name 911, or who is aware of? Pretty scary.
“They raced me to the hospital and pumped me stuffed with blood thinners, and put me on strict mattress relaxation for a couple of days, they usually discovered a blood clot in my leg on the identical facet I broke my leg.
“They asked about injuries and travelling and I said, ‘I broke my leg and then I travelled,’ and they said, ‘well, there you go — two things that can lead to a blood clot are broken bones and travelling.’”
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Ball spent per week in hospital following the Oct. 16 episode and is now recuperating at dwelling, the place he’s contemplated his luck whereas being flooded with heat needs from limitless colleagues and viewers since Ron MacLean informed his Hockey Night in Canada viewers of Ball’s scare two Saturdays in the past.
“All the people I work with, the support has been overwhelming,” stated Ball. “Hundreds of texts, it was actually uplifting and I can’t let you know how a lot that meant to listen to from all people.
“It really emphasized how important it is to touch base with people who are going through problems like that. … You might think you’re bothering them, but it really meant a lot to hear from everybody.”
When he’ll see them once more continues to be up within the air.
More exams are deliberate for later this week and relaxation assured he received’t be returning to the published sales space till he’s feeling 100 per cent.
“I’m getting there, feeling better than I was before it all got critical,” stated Ball, an achieved pianist, has spent a few of his time between watching video games enjoying his keyboard and listening to jazz. “Hopefully I can get again at it sooner reasonably than later.
“Travel is type of restricted at the least for the following little bit. I can’t climb on a airplane for one more month or so. The Flames are on the highway most of November so it’s unlikely I’ll have an opportunity to do these … I’m going to attempt to get again doing dwelling video games quickly, after which hopefully the journey will comply with.
“I’m just thankful for every day, and fingers crossed I can get back at it because I love what I do. … I love calling Flames games, I love doing hockey broadcasts and I love the people I work with, but health is priorities one through 1,000 right now so, until I feel 100 per cent I’ll have to be satisfied watching games on TV.”
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Ball stated he’s spent loads of time considering what might need been with out the love and care he acquired from medical professionals.
“I can’t tell you how much gratitude I have to whoever was looking out for me,” stated Ball. “God bless the individuals who work in our medical career
“First time I’ve ever spent any time in hospital, apart from after I was born, knock on wooden. … The folks there have been top quality. I can’t say sufficient about how fantastic all people was.
“They’re doing the lord’s work for sure.”
Looking by way of a unique lens the previous few weeks, he admits his medical scare has left him shaken.
“It scared me pretty good, I have to admit it,” stated Ball, with a contact of emotion in his wealthy voice. “Doctors got here into the hospital and stated I’m actually lucky, as a result of when it will get to that time generally the outcomes aren’t good.
“Believe me, that’s not misplaced on me.
“It actually does deliver to the forefront what day by day implies that you get up, arise and are on the precise facet of the filth.
“You get wrapped up in your individual on a regular basis issues, and all of the stuff we b— and moan about, and I get it. But I’m attempting to let that stuff go extra.
“All the stuff you hear about, ‘savour every day, hug your kids and love your family and stay in touch,’ is simply so true.
“I at all times felt myself a wholesome individual, and like a lightning bolt out of the blue it underscores a whole lot of issues we all know on a sure stage, however when one thing like this occurs it actually places into focus what actually issues in life.
“I’ve thought about that every day since it happened.”
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