Kim Mulkey, the coach of the Baylor “Lady
Bears,” has been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. She let her team know before practice
today. Of course, it’s not that she could have hidden it from them if she
wanted to. When you have Bell’s Palsy, it is very noticeable to those around
you.
About a decade ago, a good friend of
mine developed Bell’s Palsy. It was alarming at first, because it looked as if
she may have had a stroke. One whole side of her face started to droop, from
her eyelids all the way down to the corner of her mouth. There was no missing
it or covering it up, that’s for sure.
Fortunately for my friend and for
Mulkey, Bell’s Palsy is not life-threatening and is treatable. The symptoms are
caused by a nerve in the face that has become inflamed. There are medications
that can reduce that inflammation, and then only time can do the rest. Typically,
it takes several weeks or sometimes months to see your facial features return
to normal. In the meantime, life goes on.
And that’s exactly what Mulkey told
her team. “When I smile it’s crooked and when I talk, and talk loud, the
hollowness in my hearing is weird, but it’s not going to keep me from
hollering.” She is determined to keep on with her coaching duties and lead her
team to the NCAA Final Four. Surely, that will be an inspiration to her team
that just might put them over the top in attaining another championship.
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