pray4j
Encouragement
Coach K, head basketball coach Duke University
Jackson received a signed autograph and note when in the hospital early in his 26 month stay at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. It came during March Madness of his final season as head coach.
A few months later, Jackson received a phone call. On the other end was the distinctive voice of Coach K calling to talk to Jackson.
Coach K said that he was in an event in Florida and was told about Jackson by someone in the meet and greet line.
As a side note, what a special person to tell Coach K about Jackson instead of nice to meet you etc. We don't know who that person is, but he is an angel.
Coach K spoke with Jackson for a while. He asked how Jackson is hanging in there. Jackson told him how his love for basketball was helping him get thru his suffering. They discussed watching NBA and how the Atlanta Hawks was Jackson's favorite NBA team. Coach K talked about his connections to the Hawks.
Jackson gave Coach K a rundown of upcoming surgeries and his hope to get his life back. They discussed how schooling is paused and how Jackson was a basketball player in high school before getting sick. They discussed basketball together for quite a while.
Jackson expressed his lack of being able to stand or walk on his own anymore. Coach K commented that the body will respond to the mind and the heart and he can tell that Jackson has a great attitude. He expressed to Jackson that even though recovery will be tough, it can be exciting as he sees progress.
Jackson said "I never thought I would be talking to Coach K." Coach K responsed "I never thought I would be talking to Jackson either." Coach K expressed how having a great attitude when dealing with adversity at a really high level makes Jackson special. Jackson going thru this and coming out, he told Jackson he is gonna be good having gone thru it and how Jackson will be ahead of people. Coach K encouraged Jackson to stay positive and strong and that good things are going to work out for him.
Then Coach K talked to Jackson about how his mom is living with him in the hospital. He told Jackson to give her a hug for him because having a mom like that is very special.