Avery Pope, left, with her sisters and mother. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It’s no secret how important Mark Pope’s family is to him and how much he cherishes time not only with his wife but also with his four daughters.
I admire how he finds a way to make sure he incorporates his family into so many things he does at Kentucky and I know he loves the way UK fans have embraced his family just like they have him.
That’s why it was shocking to hear him reveal on “The Field of 68” Tuesday about the emergency surgery his daughter, Avery — he calls her “one of my heroes in life” — needed this summer in El Salvador during her 18-month service mission trip.
“She called us three weeks ago, and she was in the emergency room, and they were doing an emergency appendectomy in El Salvador,” Pope said on the show. “You guys can imagine the terror.
“There’s no option. There’s not time for us to fly down there. There’s not time for us to fly somebody down there. She can’t get on a plane and fly somewhere. This is the only thing.”
Scary probably does not do the feeling Pope and his wife had when they got that phone call. I remember when my son was in Venezuela on a church mission trip when he was in high school and his fever soared. They were dipping him in the ocean to try and cool him down and at that time we had every little communication with those in charge.
Fortunately for the Popes, communication is a lot better today and Pope said a surgeon-in-training kept the family informed on a phone call about what was happening.
“I got on FaceTime with the surgeon and he spoke terrific English and we were able to go through everything. I don’t know enough, but we went through enough to know it’s going to be okay,” the UK coach said. “He was a veteran guy and had been taught a long time ago.”
The good news is that Avery came out of the surgery fine and apparently is back to 100 percent.
“She’s come back and she’s as salty as ever. She’s making a huge difference in the world right now, she’s healthy, and I’m grateful,” Pope said.
One Response
Coach Lope & his entire family an incredible ambassadors of the Lord and UK in one “normal” living by their high standards. He brings a lot more to UK tan just an excellent coach.
Impressed, but not surprised that Larry’s son went on a mission.
May the Lord Jesus supply, protect & take care of all who choose God in their life,, especially in these days when evil is intensifying the fight using extremists on the opposite side.