Etan Thomas is my new hero. The Wizards center returned courtside to Verizon Center Monday to watch his teammates. Just three months after undergoing open heart surgery to replace a leaky heart value, Thomas awaits medical clearance to practice. And not long after that, to play.
Amazing.
Thomas’ heart is fine. The boyhood condition hadn’t deteriorated to levels that trigger other medical problems. It’s his sternum that must be fully healed before taking an elbow to the 10-inch gash that is painful enough to stop a charging rhino in its tracks. I know — after undergoing open heart surgery in 2004, the prospect of someone hitting it still troubles me. Thomas will wear a protective vest, but unless it’s kevlar you wonder how much it can deflect a blow.
But Thomas isn’t worried. He’s more concerned over staying away.
“I’m ready now,” he said. “They’re being extra cautious. … When you first hear heart surgery, it doesn’t sound like ankle surgery. It sounds serious [but] if I couldn’t come back safely it wouldn’t even be a thought. I love the game, but I love life, too.
“That was the first question I had — can I safely play? Can I safely practice? Can I safely do all the things that I want to do and return to the game I love? [Doctors] said yes. That wouldn’t be a problem.”
Thomas watched Wizards games while rehabbing. It made him take another step or two on the treadmill. The competitive juices to return to the passion of his life was worth the rehab.
“I’d see the team and that’s where I wanted to get back to,” Thomas said. “It was a goal, an inspiration.”
Seeing other patients made Thomas appreciate not only the game, but his life. He was a celebrity around the ward among those also undergoing the operation. Thomas saw those in worse condition because their insurance companies weren’t as proactive and waited until the patients deteriorated, making their comebacks even harder and longer.
“I’m so blessed and thankful,” Thomas said. “I saw in the hospital a lot of situations worse than mine. After the surgery you feel terrible and wonder ‘Why do I have to go through this?’ but then you see people that really have problems, really have it bad. Little kids. Sometimes I have to give myself a little pick me up. I’d go to the children’s section of the hospital and talk to the little kids.”
Thomas doesn’t expect to regain his starting role. Brendan Haywood is averaging 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds. Indeed, Thomas is unsure just what his role will be.
“I’m not going to come back and everything immediately go back to the way it was,” he said. “I have a hill to climb with that.”
Then again, the victory is just reaching the court this season. Every minute afterwards is a bonus.
“I can’t imagine how it will feel,” he said.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
