05/2/08

Most people never get the chance to see how much they mean to those around them.

Unfortunately, assistant football coach Josh Buford has had that opportunity.

Friends. Family. Colleagues. Players. Over 25 long, boring days in three different hospitals, many people took the opportunity to show Buford his place in the world.

“I guess whenever you are put in a situation like this, you appreciate everyone and everything so much more,” Buford said. “All the people that came and saw me and called me are the reason I made it through. My mom and I wouldn’t have made it through all this without those people.”

During a pick-up basketball game he noticed swelling on the back of his knee. He didn’t think much of it at the time, but soon it would force Buford to fight for his life.

A couple days would pass before the pain had become so severe he had to visit the emergency room.

The doctor’s diagnosis said it was just a cyst, so he treated him and sent him home. The next day the pain came back, and Buford returned to the emergency room.

This time he would be admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital East in Lee’s Summit, Mo. However, the hospital did not have an interventional radiologist on staff so Buford was transported by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital North in Kansas City, Kan.

Three weeks in, Buford wasn’t getting any better. Nobody understood, not even the doctors, assistant coach Jason Thoren said.

“We were starting to get really worried,” Thoren said. “It’s just really hard when someone close to you is suffering and there really isn’t much you can do for him.”

Buford didn’t want to wait around anymore. With his mother’s help, Buford requested a second opinion.

His final stop would be at St. Luke’s Hospital South in Overland Park. There, another specialist gave him a more advanced treatment, assistant coach Justin Bloomer said.

“It was getting a little stressful there for a while because nothing was working,” Bloomer said. “Finally, within the last few days, Josh has gotten a lot better with the alternate treatment he started receiving.”

Although he wouldn’t come out and say it, Bloomer has been in pain too. Bloomer and Buford have been roommates and best friends for six years, so it’s no mystery that these two men are very close.

When Bloomer talks about his friend, it’s easy to see the relief in his eyes as he says Buford is OK now.

Buford stopped by the football office Monday just to say, “Hi,” but his stay lasted four hours, head coach Mike Grossner said.

“It’s just great to see him back up and moving around again,” he said. “We are pretty close around here so it’s hard when anything bad happens to our family.”

Most people don’t take the time to appreciate each step they take until it’s too late. Fortunately, Buford has been given a second chance, and he knows he will never forget how blessed he is to walk again.

“I’m a pretty active guy,” he said. “So, it’s extremely hard for me to just lie around. I just started walking again Saturday, which was great. Lying in a hospital bed is something I don’t wish upon anyone, but now walking means so much more than it used to.”

The most difficult thing for Buford has been the time away from the football field doing what he loves.

Buford, a Wildcat receiver and tight end from 2002 to 2005 at Baker, has spent the last two seasons coaching the ‘Cats’ pass catchers. During his stay in the hospital, he missed his guys severely.

“It was really hard not being able to be out there with them,” he said. “At first, I didn’t think I was going to miss all of spring ball, but that’s how it worked out.”

Despite the many setbacks, Buford kept fighting and was determined to get back to Liston Stadium.

Buford had one goal while he was in the hospital – to be on the field with his guys during the annual alumni football game at Liston Stadium.

Kickoff came and went, and Buford wasn’t anywhere to be found. Everyone would have understood if he had missed the game, but not Buford.

“I just wanted to be there,” Buford said. “That was my only goal. I finally got checked out of the hospital at one, and I got there for the second half. I wanted to see all my players and my friends on the alumni team that I had played with.”

Players from both sides rushed over to Buford to see their coach and friend. He was forced to watch from a wheelchair, but that didn’t take any joy away from the goal he had reached.

“Right then, for me, it was the best place in the world,” Buford said.

Buford still has to go back to the hospital three times a week for treatment, but that is much better than the alternative, he said.

“I just don’t want to go back in (the hospital) anytime soon,” he said.