With a new leg, Tisdale taking steps to recovery
Ex-Sooner hoops great is bouncing back from cancer
BY JENNI CARLSON
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Published: October 22, 2008
Wayman Tisdale hiked up his black gym shorts and showed off his prosthetic right leg.
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A shocking diagnosis
The cancer diagnosis was a shock as was the news that his leg needed to be amputated.
Before the surgery, Tisdale had plenty of folks tell him how terrible it was that he had to lose his leg. But he realized that while others defined him by his physicality, he didn’t see his worth the same way.
"The NBA didn’t make Wayman Tisdale who he was,” Tisdale said. "I was Wayman Tisdale before the NBA. I’m still Wayman Tisdale.”
He felt the same way when he woke up after the amputation.
"The biggest confidence is when I came out of surgery and I was still the same me,” he said. "I’m still the same me.”
That was evident Tuesday afternoon.
Tisdale had an appointment at Sabolich to tweak his prosthetic, a high-tech contraption. He wears a "smart knee” with the ability to be programmed to each individual, and it adjusts to the user’s activity.
The resistance, for example, changes when Tisdale goes from walking to climbing stairs.
Body has changed, but not his spirit
After a few changes, Tisdale walked into the hall with Sabolich and his prosthetist, Kyle Wagner.
"If it starts beeping and vibrating at you, Wayman, just take a few seconds for it to stop,” Wagner said as Tisdale moved slowly down the long hallway. "Don’t keep going.”
Tisdale turned around and walked back toward Wagner, then broke out in a little shimmy dance step.
"Be careful,” Sabolich said.
Tisdale flashed that familiar grin.
"First time he went down the hall,” Sabolich said, "he about fell over.”
Tisdale looks steady on his feet now, but still has much to learn.
"Scott,” Tisdale asked Sabolich, "is there a special trick to turning?”
"You’ve got to do that choppy thing,” Sabolich said, demonstrating by planting his foot and taking little steps with his other foot until he was turned. "Try to pivot around your good leg and have your prosthetic go around.”
Tisdale nodded.
"That’s the secret,” he said. "That’s what I’m going for, Scott.”
Tisdale’s body has changed.
His spirit has not.
"It’s pretty amazing,” he said, "that we’ve gotten this far.”
former Sooner basketball star
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As much as I loved watching him play at OU, I love the character that he has always exhibited even more. He's always been an inspiration.
For all of these reasons, Joe Castiglione and the OU crew should do something to at least show a small token of our appreciation to Wayman and his family NOW. Maybe rename Lloyd Noble or SOMETHING, ya know (not sure how feasible that is, but something that is commensurate with all Wayman has done for OU and even non-OU fans).
It'd be a win-win all the way around, and I don't see the down-side to it. I'm a Sooner born and bred, but I'm an active duty military member now, getting ready to deploy to Iraq next month. Not sure what I can do to make this happen, but I sure think someone back home should get the ball a rollin'! Maybe I'll call WWLS nxt week when I get the chance and get them behind it.
My prayers are with Wayman and his family, and I believe God will bring him through this. Wayman, you have fans and friends literally around the world who you'll never know this side of heaven. God bless and keep you.
Cooter why you afraid to use your real name?
Whats the deal, do you have issues?
We love ya Wayman!
Wayman, love you dude!!
Wayman, good luck to you. One thing is for sure, you are at the best place in the world. Scott Sabolich and his staff ROCK!!! My husband is a bi-lateral amputee (both arms) and they go above and beyond to help with anything. Keep up the good work!!