I did not expect to begin the month of October with a broken bone in my left foot.
But compared to many others in the southeast region of the United States, I consider myself lucky.
Josh McKinney
Assistant Sports Editor
My wife and I never went without water, lost our power for less than a day and a half, and got our Wi-Fi back after just a couple of days without it. We didn’t have to discard much of our food, had family members who were there for us when we needed help, and used a battery-operated radio that I have owned for many years to listen to 106.9 The Light during the power outage, which provided us with both uplifting music and regular updates on the impact of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina.
All in all, we came out unscathed, and we are extremely grateful for that fact. However, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those around us who have suffered tremendous loss due to this catastrophic event.
Many questions remain as people try to move forward, but I will say this: I am extremely proud of those in the community who have stepped up to help those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. It is amazing how individuals tend to unite in times of crisis, and I only wish things could be that way more often.
During my lifetime, I have seen people pull together after such tragedies as 9/11, Hurricane Frances in September 2004, and again over the past couple of weeks. But this is undoubtedly the greatest devastation I have ever witnessed in terms of the direct effect on Burke County, and I am saddened by what unfolded two weekends ago.
When it comes to local high school and middle school athletics, they started to recommence this week. And my wish is that their return provides a source of happiness and a beacon of hope for participants and spectators alike.
As for me, I will be sidelined from playing basketball for quite some time after suffering the aforementioned foot injury. After breaking the third metatarsal in my right foot during an adult basketball game at the Hickory Foundation YMCA in August 2023, I broke the fifth metatarsal in my left foot on Sept. 23 when I felt a tweak while battling for a loose ball during a pickup game at Mountain View Recreation Center.
I actually limped around for three days before making the trip to EmergeOrtho in Morganton on Sept. 26. I thought my foot was just badly bruised, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case, as I am now back in a walking boot and will be unable to play the game I love for at least the rest of 2024.
I plan to take roughly a year off, though, as my wife is currently pregnant with our first child and I don’t want to risk further injury before she gives birth. I need to let my foot heal and then I will likely resume the home workout regimen that I recently started so that I can be fully prepared in terms of my health and fitness – or at least as fully prepared as a first-time parent can be – for our child’s April 7 due date.
At the end of the day, what I’m going through is small potatoes compared to what others are facing right now. And I have a lot to look forward to in the near future as well.
God has been good to me, and I pray that he extends his grace to those in need in the coming weeks and months. After all, a lot of people could use some good news right now.
Josh McKinney is assistant sports editor at The Paper. He can be reached at 828-445-8595 or josh@thepaper.media.
