As Tatum’s return from injury shows, a comeback is better than a setback
The NBA star showed me my own way through my hypopara journey
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I discovered Michael Mannstadt, MD, an innovative doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who authored nearly every research paper I’d read and was an expert in hypoparathyroidism, a disorder that disrupts calcium regulation. There ws hope, at last, and it only took 18 years!
Back from the setback
When I met Mannstadt, he told me something he still says to me: “The worst is behind you.” Each trip to see him was like I was going from living with a fear of the unknown to living with the hope of being healed.
Bari Vapnek, left, with her son, Harrison, during one of their many trips together to Boston, where she received medical care for hypoparathyroidism. (Courtesy of Bari Vapnek)
Harrison began accompanying me to the appointments the next year. That helped to ease my anxiety and create a wonderful bonding ritual for both of us. We began celebrating Beantown history and taking in as many sports teams as we could, including witnessing the rise of Boston Celtics’ forward Jayson Tatum as he progressed from rookie to All-Star, to NBA champion, and then Olympic champion.
When the Celtics won the NBA Championship in 2024, Harrison and I felt like it was a member of our family holding that trophy. But the next year, Tatum went down with an injury and didn’t return to the court until just last week, a 10-month absence.
His injury helped me to frame my own journey with hypoparathyroidism, to think of the times that I am down as a hiccup, when my body throws me into an unexpected calcium crash, and I can’t be on the court of life.
On the night of Tatum’s return, Harrison called me and said, “We did it” — the same words Tatum said when he won the NBA Championship. Tatum proves that so much is possible with strength and determination. The comeback is always better than the setback. The game isn’t over yet.
This brave butterfly looks forward to returning to Boston with Harrison, where hope and laughter will lift us above every obstacle.
Thank you, Boston, for teaching my son and me that challenges foster resilience and growth, and help shape who we are. We win together, we lose together. We are a team, the best in the world, always supporting each other with hearts connected. The memories made are my championship trophy!
Note: Hypoparathyroidism News is a strictly news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hypoparathyroidism News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hypoparathyroidism.
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