A Fantasy Friend In Need

With all of the interaction that I have with my readers, I have heard plenty of stories about their fantasy experiences.  Usually, they are funny and/or light hearted.  Unfortunately, recently I heard of a story of a fellow hardcore fantasy player that was tragic and sad.

I invite you to check out this link:  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rdreid.  This is the story R.D. Reid, a 28 year old family man who was trying to do the best for his wife and daughter, and even planned to start his own church.  The accident that he had, as described by his sister:  RD had been working for a week mowing lawns. While mowing along side a ditch the mower locked and RD and the mower fell into the ditch. The mower landed on top of RD before catching fire. RD has suffered 3rd degree burns to about 30% of his body with the most severe areas being his right arm and side, his back, and legs. He has also suffered a spinal cord injury. RD has what we are told is a burst fracture of his L1 vertebrae (this is located in his lower back just below his last rib) With a burst fracture his vertebra has split into pieces. One of these pieces has gone into his spinal canal injuring his spinal cord. At this point in time RD has no sensation or movement from about his belly button down. There is no head injury!! Although RD is on a lot of pain medicine his is able to wake up and interact with his family and doctors.

This accident has obviously left RD paralyzed, although through his faith he has hope that he will one day walk again.  Now, here is the part that makes RD a fantasy football legend in my book.  RD has had multiple skin graft surgeries to help from the terrible burns that he suffered from this accident.  Two days after one of his skin grafts, his fantasy football live draft was supposed to happen.  Did he postpone his draft, or even decide that he wouldn’t play fantasy football this season?  No way, mister.  Not only did RD participate in this draft in his hospital room, but the guy didn’t take any of his pain medication that day so that he could be sure he had a clear head for the fantasy draft!  That is an amazing feat!  I have missed drafts before because I was tired, never mind because of the adversity that this guy faced.  Adversity, that is a word that is so overused in sports.  Teams have an injury or something like that and they act like they have been through hell.  Ladies and gentlemen, RD Reid has been through adversity, and he is making the most of his situation.  He hasn’t let it get him down, and he is making the best of a tough situation.  Now, if you follow that link above, you can find the Caring Bridge site that is dedicated to RD and his family.  If you are so inclined, you can make a donation to the Reid family who is certainly buried in health care costs.  To make a donation to RD, do not follow the donation links to the right of the page.  If you go to the “Links” tab at the top of the page you can give to the PayPal account that is dedicated to the Reid family.

This is truly a sad story about a man that was trying to do what was best for his daughter and his family.  He is definitely making the best that he can of a really tough situation, and if anyone can come back from this, it seems that RD Reid will.  As all of us are fantasy players, if it is possible, please come to the aid of a hardcore fantasy brother who is in need.  Can you imagine foregoing pain medication from a skin graft just to be sure that you drafted a good team?  That is awesome!!!  I always have a soft spot and hope that those who email me for advice to win their leagues, but in this case, I am rooting for RD to win his league every week.