Ultimate comeback

Steve Virgen

How could this happen to me?

Why me?

Why, God?

The questions echoed in the distance, but never came to the

surface. Aaron Harper had other thoughts on his mind. The only

question he was asking: How will I be able to play baseball again?

No one could give him an answer. Yet he knew somehow, some way, he

would return from the most traumatic experience of his life and play

his favorite sport once again. He knew he would deal with a serious

debilitating back condition and find his place on the Corona del Mar

High baseball team, a squad that is in first place in the Pacific

Coast League.

“I always had it in me to come back and play,” said Harper, a Sea

King junior pitcher who rehabilitated from an eight-hour back surgery

that took place Oct. 30, 2001. “I love playing baseball and I love

being out on the field. I couldn’t bring myself to think about

quitting baseball because it’s always been there in my life.”

Baseball has also always been important in Harper’s family. The

game would sometime serve as the mediator or the calm when the

Harpers would experience struggles. Playing catch was an outlet and

also a way of life.

When Aaron Harper came into this world he was destined for a life

full of baseball. He was named after Hank Aaron, and his older

brother, Ty, was named after another baseball great, Ty Cobb.

As soon as Harper could hit a ball off a tee, he became excited

about the game and eventually a student of its many intricacies. He

watched with delight as his brother awed other fans with his great

power at the plate.

Ty Harper starred at Corona del Mar. He was the 1999 CIF Division

IV Co-Player of the Year. He owns school and Newport-Mesa career

records for hits (132), home runs (24) and RBIs (99). He also shares

the single-season home run record (12) with 1999 Sea King graduate

Eric Wiethorn.

Aaron seemed to have the chance to become great for the Sea Kings,

too. He was progressing as a pitcher, and he grew roughly 14 inches

in less than 15 months before he became an eighth grader.

Anxiety and hope filled the Harper household. The potential for

greatness brought motivation for Aaron. But that all changed when an

abnormal back condition struck fear and doubt for Aaron.

The upper portion of his spine began to curve like a question mark

and he developed a hunch. His back condition was officially known as,

Scheuermann’s kyphosis -- the vertebrae and his disks were irregular

and wedge-shaped. The cause of the deformity is unknown.

His spine had started to collapse and the disks began to sever. He

had to go through intense surgery in the fall of 2001. Aaron was cut open from the back of his neck to his lower back. His vertebrae was

straighten and his disks were removed, replaced with supports made up

from his floating ribs.

To strengthen his back, surgery included rods, screws and hooks

inserted along the spine, which also straightened his back.

“The post-operative recovery from doing this surgery is

difficult,” said Dr. John Carlisle Brown, a Hoag Hospital orthopedic

spine surgeon who performed the surgery on Aaron. “Patients have two

major incisions. They hurt in two major places (the back and left

abdomen). They experience quite a bit of discomfort and pain for

several days.”

It was also painful for Walt and Merrilee Harper to watch their

youngest son endure such agony and peril. Walt and Merrilee, along

with Ty, were in the waiting room during the surgery.

“It was heartbreaking,” Ty said. “It was like someone taking a

piece of your heart out of you. It was really tough for me to see my

brother in that state.”

After six hours of surgery, Brown and his staff took a break.

After the surgery, as standard procedure, Aaron was taken to the

Intensive Care Unit, but the Harpers were unaware and fearful that

something had happened to him. The Harpers were tired of hopelessly

waiting hours after the surgery.

“We pretty much barged in the recovery room,” Merrilee said. “I

wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, all of it.”

In the days after the surgery, Aaron experienced what Dr. Brown

called, “cardio abnormality.” Aaron’s heartbeat was off and his lungs

began to fill with fluid. The pain was enough to send him

unconscious.

For a 15-year-old to go through such an ordeal, it felt as if he

were dying.

“I actually saw pictures of my life, like when they say your life

passes before you,” said Aaron, now 18. “I saw pictures and they were

familiar. I think there is a purpose why I went through all that. I

think God has a plan for me. I think He wanted me to stay here. He’s

working on my life and He has something for me to do.”

Said Walt Harper: “Aaron is definitely a gift. He has a lot of

qualities I wish I had. He’s a person anyone can talk to. He had the

patience to come back and find some way to contribute to the team.

Every time I see him play, I just thank God that he’s able to do it.”

Even with the surgery, Aaron’s back condition has not been

completely solved. His condition has improved, but another challenge

awaits.

A part of his spine, just above where the surgery was performed,

is curving. Dr. Brown referred him to Dr. Harry Shufflebargar in

Miami. After the season, the Harpers will travel to Florida and gain

an opinion from Shufflebarger, who has experience with Aaron’s

post-operative condition, Brown said.

Until then, Aaron will continue to practice and play baseball,

which is truly remarkable amid his plight.

“The fact that he’s playing baseball at all is a tribute to his

desire, discipline and his attitude,” Dr. Brown said. “Most people

with his problem would not be playing baseball. I’m happy that he

could play and I’m happy I could help out. It’s really rewarding.”

Aaron’s recovery has also rewarded and inspired Walt, Merrilee, Ty

and the Sea Kings, in particular Coach John Emme, who looks after

Aaron and makes sure he does not become injured.

Emme, as well as his players and several students from Corona del

Mar, visited Aaron and supported him. When the hope of returning to

the baseball field appeared bleak, Aaron remained steadfast in his

quest to come back.

“He never talked about not playing baseball,” Emme said. “He knows

more than anyone if you don’t have goals to shoot for coming back is

that much more difficult. People can learn an awful lot from him.

He’s a phenomenal human being.”

Emme beams when he speaks of Aaron and it isn’t because the junior

pitcher is leading the team in strikeouts or has an incredible ERA.

On the contrary, Aaron hardly plays, and instead makes the most of

his role of managing statistics and hustling during practices.

Aaron also does his best to take advantage of the few appearances

he does make. His teammates and friends cheered him on when he

pitched the final two innings in the Sea Kings’ 16-1 victory over

Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana March 30. It was the longest playing time

he has had on the varsity team this season. He played on the junior

varsity team last year. Just 17 months after his surgery he pitched

in his first game as a sophomore last season.

“I missed my whole freshman season,” Aaron said. “But coming back

and pitching my first game, that was awesome. It made the long

journey I had complete. It was even better pitching my first varsity

game. That was against Foothill in the Newport Elks tournament this

season, that was surreal.”

Against Calvary Chapel, Aaron hit the first batter he faced, but

then came up with a sensational double play, gloving a line drive and

making the quick throw to first before the runner could come back.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Sea Kings were up to

bat, Aaron nearly recorded his first hit. He sent a would-be blooping

single toward right field, but the first baseman made a great diving

catch before the ball landed.

Like any competitor Aaron appeared bitter after the game, stinging

from the hit he could have had. But he quickly put his feelings to

rest because Emme needed the final statistics.

Aaron’s attitude and comeback has been an added asset for the Sea

Kings, who have set lofty goals, such as winning the CIF Southern

Section Division IV title.

“He’s great to have on the team,” said Todd Macklin, Corona del

Mar’s ace who’s bound for USC. “He’s always hustling. He’s great to

be around. He has gone through a lot in the last couple years with

his surgery. It’s uplifting to see him play. It’s definitely

inspiring.”

Throughout the season, Aaron has been content with his role, while

also strengthening relationships with his teammates, the majority of

which have been his friends since he started playing Little League.

He has also formed a strong bond with Emme and pitching coach Steve

Foreman.

“He gives everything he possibly can,” Foreman said. “Maybe some

kids would give up. But this kid does not give up. He battles. Aaron

has a heart you can’t even begin to describe. It’s worth more than

tons of gold.”

Aaron maintains a strong faith there’s a reason he survived such a

painful experience. He said he is still searching for that reason.

For now, it’s to help the Sea Kings in any way he can.