Good Cliches

I received an email today that brings to mind the "good" cliches we hear from time to time such as "live life to the fullest", "life is short", or  "you only live once".  Naturally, we tend to ignore or dismiss cliches because we've heard them a million times, but every now and then, you realize why.  Today was that day for me.

This past August, we hosted the LPGA Jamie Farr Toledo Classic as we have for the better part of the last 25 years or so.  The last three times we have hosted, our advance (lead) official was Doug Brecht.  Prior to becoming our advance official, Doug had served many years here as a rules official.

As advance official, Doug would show up the week prior to the event and work closely with me as well as tournament staff getting the course staged and ready for the tournament and onslaught of pro-ams that were to come.  As usual, Doug showed up Monday of advance week and we went through our usual tour of the course and chit-chat session which I always enjoyed.  Usually, after some small talk, I would pry some good stories from him about his adventures and travels with the LPGA and PGA tours.  It just so happened that he had worked the men's Open Championship weeks before and he shared some interesting stories with me from his time overseas.

The tournament week was approaching, and things were going along normally other than Doug had lamented about not feeling too well late in advance week.  He thought it may be the flu or fatigue, and like any "tough guy" he continued working anyhow.  Sunday evening before the first day of tournament week, Doug was on the golf course setting the Monday pro-am pins amidst our last few rounds of member play.  When I asked him how he was feeling, all I got out of him was "not worth a shit" and he stomped off to continue setting pin placements.

Monday  morning arrived and the first of two pro-ams was off and running.  I went to the LPGA office trailer to touch base with Doug and the rest of his team, and he seemed to be feeling a little better after a nights sleep.  He told me he was off to the doctor, and that the other official Marty would take care of the Pro-ams.  This was the last time I saw him.

Naturally, when Doug was not back Tuesday and then Wednesday, we were concerned.  The only information we had was that he was waiting for blood test results and still "under the weather".  The tournament went on without him.

Late in the week, the tournament still going on, Doug was admitted to the hospital, unconscious, partly paralyzed, and required a ventilator to breathe.  I was walking around the golf course with the man just days earlier, and suddenly he is on a ventilator.  With no concrete answers from the doctors yet, we were obviously scared.

Once the tournament was over, Doug was still unconscious and was airlifted to a hospital more near his home in Norman, Oklahoma where he was finally diagnosed with "West Nile Meningitis".  This is the most severe "neuroinvasive disease" resulting from West Nile Virus that attacks the nervous system.  West Nile Virus is transmitted by mosquito bites.

Today, I received an email from the LPGA regarding his condition, and it remains poor.  He has seen little to no improvement over the past 3-4 weeks and he remains paralyzed and on a ventilator.  Doctors have been unable to establish a prognosis for Doug.

His wife, who I met here in Toledo, is a golf teaching professional and a delightful person.  She has remained by his side constantly.  She has reduced her workload in order to make the trip from their home to the hospital daily.

As you can imagine, with no improvement or prognosis, the insurance companies are pulling back expenditures to support treatment and Doug's wife is being forced to find "longer term living arrangements".  They are looking for new facilities that will accommodate his condition and hopefully keep recovery efforts moving forward.  Unfortunately, portions of it are coming out-of-pocket.  To help with the cost, a benefit fund has been established at Banc First in Norman, OK.  I will donate some money to help a good man and a great friend of golf.

So today - hug your spouse, play catch with your kids, kiss your dog,  call your gramma and remember that "life is short" and maybe things aren't as bad as they seem.