Anger, hurt and fear are some of the emotions Ben Petrick felt when it was confirmed that, at 23, he had early-onset Parkinson's disease. He went from being a gifted catcher with an incredible future on the Colorado Rockies to not knowing what tomorrow would bring.
"My entire identity was in baseball," he says. "I spent most of my adult life with 25 guys in a clubhouse or on the field. I had only wished for two things in life: to play pro baseball and to be a father. Now, one of those had been stripped from me and I had no clue how I would do the other with my physical limitations. I was very down.
"The disease progressed over five years to the point that there were many times I was not able to help care for our daughter."
In an effort to improve his quality of life, Petrick underwent risky surgery. Initially, the surgery seemed to be successful, but a short time later he developed an infection that landed him back in the hospital unable to move. It was at this point he told his father he thought that his family might be better off if they didn't have to worry about him.
"My dad looked at me and said, 'Don't you ever say that. You have a daughter at home who is counting on you. Quit thinking about yourself, and think about your daughter.' Not a surprising response from the man who had pushed me my entire life to be a better person."
A few months later, Petrick underwent a successful second surgery. With medication, his physical ability is back to almost 100 percent. While his wife teaches, he is able to help with their two daughters, Makena and Madison. He also gives private lessons and helps coach a local high school baseball team.
"When the disease robbed me of the thing I loved, I was bitter and had no clue who I was anymore," he says. "Looking back, my baseball career seems like a million years ago. I am happy that I had the opportunity to play. I didn't finish my career the way I wanted, but I am OK with that.
"My focus has turned to caring for my wife and girls. My oldest daughter could care less that I am not playing ball anymore. She just wants me to get on the floor and play princess.
"I figured out that my little girls gave me something that 40,000 fans in the stands couldn't give me, a love that made me want to live."
It was only through adversity that Petrick figured out his real purpose in life, a journey he has articulated in his book "40,000 to One, Vol. 1," available online.
"When you marry and have children, you give your wife and kids a Forever card," Petrick says. "It signifies that I'll be there for them yesterday, today and always. I had definitely been thrown a curveball, but in the darkest time, my purpose became clear. My job was to focus on the needs of those I love."
Petrick, now 35, has had Parkinson's for 13 years.
"I used to think that being a champion depended on what I did when nobody else was watching," said Petrick. "Now I know it is about what I do before the eyes of two precious little girls."
Email Julie Baumgardner at julieb@firstthings.org.