Chrissy Smith

The Daily News

Sports have always been a huge part of my life.

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Then my little son was born, and he became an even bigger part of it.

After six weeks of recuperation, I am finally back at work and ready for the district basketball season to wrap up and playoffs to begin.

When I walked into work on Friday I said, "Well, I missed the best part of basketball season!"

Editor and publisher John Walker then reminded me that the playoffs were right around the corner.

Walker and assistant managing editor Jacob Brooks have done a great job of holding down the sports department in my absence. Considering it is very uncommon to have a sports editor out because of maternity leave, I just want to say thanks to the guys for covering for me.

Although I am out of the hospital after delivering my son three months early, my baby boy is still in the NICU. The doctors said he is doing just fine, but still needs a bit more time to gain strength. He is way ahead of schedule, though, and they are hoping to send him home at the end of next week.

For those who missed it, I had to deliver my son when I was only 28 weeks pregnant because of a disease called pre-eclampsia. The cause of the disease is unknown and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. Pre-eclampsia causes the kidneys to shut down, along with many other problems. After an emergency c-section because the disease was effecting my son as well as myself, the pre-eclampsia got worse. I was lucky to make it out of the hospital and the doctors said I am fortunate to be alive because it was the most severe case they had ever seen.

But God is good and he took care of me and my son, who weighed 2 pounds, 4 ounces at birth. Now Jerry Scott Smith III weighs 3 pounds, 14 ounces and is out of the incubator and in a crib. He is regulating his own body temperature and eating out of a bottle instead of through a tube in his nose.

Sports is important, but there are other things that are more important.

I hope the athletes of Washington Parish remember that as they head into the basketball playoffs this year. Have a good attitude, trust God and everything will work out according to plan.

(Chrissy Smith is sports editor of the Daily News and may be reached at 732-2565 or dnsports@wickcommunications.com.)