Sue Rubens, J Robinson’s wife, tells us about her experience with J’s recent battle with adversity.

The Reality of J’s surgery #?!?…

FRUSTRATION with J for not telling me he was in the hospital during the tournament. RELIEF that everything seemed OK. ANXIETY that things must be bad enough for team doctor, Doc Smith, to send us to the Mayo Clinic immediately that night.  FAMILIARITY of yet another J medical revision.  FEAR of hearing his surgery went from last, to first of the day, due to the speed of the infection and the lethal damage it could have caused.

11 unexpected days at the Mayo Clinic was a roller coaster – post op, he is typical J – talking about going to work, how Nelson and Schiller were going to have to carry him down to the wrestling room…and then the major panic dip for me, as 2 days later he appears barely conscious and they decide to put the full cast on him that day to stabilize the cement block and rods that are now in his left leg.  SCARED – where did my opinionated, stubborn husband go?  This person laying in the hospital bed can’t hardly talk, eat or get out of bed.  Adjustments are made and a few days later, he’s finally sent home but so sickly and weak I’m asking myself is he going to be OK?

It’s always good to be home even if I have him trapped Kathy Bates style. The exhaustion levels are pretty extreme, the pain that shoots through his leg whenever he moves is frightening.  We’ve never been down this road of him being so physically and mentally impacted by a medical procedure.

PERSPECTIVE is key, we are extremely blessed and grateful to God.  I haven’t allowed any pity-parties as there are people in our lives who are facing incredibly difficult challenges.  Just walking the halls through the Mayo Clinic was enough to put this in perspective and we couldn’t be more appreciative of having access to top-notch medical professionals.

Luckily I am able to use everything he teaches back at him if I get any resistance!  We’ve had battles, I’ve threatened him with “negatives” and I look forward to when I have to rein him back in.

-Sue Rubens