By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
When Ellis High School freshman Colton Metzler was born, he was missing a bone in his lower left leg.
Metzler's parents, Becky and Jim, sought care from the Shriner's Hospital in St. Louis.
"We had good insurance. We thought we were stable. We thought we could get it done," Colton said.
But a Shriner friend said it's not about that.
"It's about getting your son's life right, and getting the care is some of the best you can find," Colton said.
Colton is serving as a patient ambassador for the Shriners Hospital for the Shrine Bowl, which will be Saturday night in Hays. Players from both the East and West teams met with ambassadors, listened to their stories and played some games along the way Friday.
The Shrine Bowl will be at 7 p.m. at Lewis Field on the Fort Hays State University campus.
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An impossible decision
Colton's parents were given two very difficult options at the Shriners Hospital. Colton would have to endure a series of painful surgeries to lengthen the bones in his left leg to equal his right leg.
The other option was an amputation of a portion of his left limb and the use of a prosthetic leg.
"It was a really hard decision for my parents, not knowing what you are going to put your 1-year-old through," Colton said.
Becky and Jim, Colton's parents, were reassured by another family who had faced the same decision with their son.
"When we walked through those doors of the hospital, you could feel the warmth, the love and the care," Becky said.
When Colton was 1 year and 19 days old, his left ankle was amputated. He was fitted with his first prosthetic at 15 months old. Within 45 minutes of receiving his new limb, he was walking down the hall, holding his dad's hands.
He's had two more surgeries since to correct issues with his knee.
"You may not realize it now," Colton told the players. "It may be five years from now or 10 years from now, some day you will realize that just by sitting in this room now, you are raising money to change some kid's life."
"You may never meet them, but you are changing kids' lives by sitting here."
Colton said his parents never received bills for his surgeries or treatment. His father, Jim, said the local Shriners were always just a call away to help with anything the family needed, including help with transportation, hotels and meals.
When Colton was about 4 years old, he came into his house crying. He said, "I just want two real legs."
Colton's dad pointed out to Colton that he was just outside with his brother, playing tag, going down the slide and swinging.
"He said, 'Colton if you had a real leg, you won't be able to run and chase your brother. You wouldn't be playing on the swing set. You might not even be walking,'" Jim said.
As Colton readies to enter high school, he's soaring.
Colton was an honorary captain two years ago when the Shrine Bowl was in Hutchinson. His mother said players still keep in touch with him.
He plays football and basketball, as well as wrestles. His dream is to be the first ambassador to also be a player in the annual Shrine Bowl.
Becky said Jim and Colton's older brother both want to become Shriners so they can support the cause, but they are waiting until Colton turns 18 so the three men in the family can all go through the process together.
'I could be in a wheelchair'
Rylie Fairbank, 18, of Hays, was born with legs that rotated inward. She could run and play like most kids, but she was in pain.
Her parents were told that she needed surgery on one leg. After a second opinion, her parents were told she needed surgery on both of her legs.
The family went to the Shriners Hospital and was told Rylie needed surgery on both of her legs, but she was not strong enough for the surgery. Her mother was skeptical. Rylie was a very active, strong little girl.
The medical staff explained some of Rylie's muscles were very strong, but they were compensating for other muscles that were weak. She would need to undergo physical therapy to strengthen those weaker muscles so she could fully recover from her surgery.
Rylie said had the Shriners medical staff not insisted on that physical therapy, she might not be able to run, play sports and even walk. She might be in a wheelchair.
Rylie had two surgeries to insert titanium rods in her upper legs— one in the fifth grade and one when she was in the sixth grade. She still laments that her mother would not allow her to walk across the stage for her fifth-grade promotion because she was still recovering from her surgery and in a wheelchair.
Rylie's mother said Rylie, who graduated in May from Hays High School, will be attending Regis University in Denver in the fall. She will be studying pre-med. Her goal is to become a pediatric anesthesiologist.
Rylie said an anesthesiologist at Shriners had helped her calm down before her surgeries and had inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.
"They are really attentive when we tell our stories," Rylie said of the players. "You can really see that they are learning and caring. I think it is amazing that they get to have this experience to learn that it's not just a football game, but what Shriners is and what they do for us as patients."
Several players from Hays have been chosen to play for the West team this year. Most of the players said they didn't know much about the Shriners or their mission before this week.
"It's awesome hearing about these kids' stories," said Bryce Salmans, Hays player. "I didn't know much about the Shrine Hospital until I found out about the football game. ...
"People think the football players are the tough ones out here in the all-star game. These kids are the ones who are really going through the battle every day. They are the toughest ones, as tough as they come."
Evan Lind, Hays player, also said he thinks it's important he can be a part of the fundraising effort for the Shriners Hospitals.
Kade Harris of Thomas More Prep-Marian was selected for the West team, but an injury is preventing him from playing. He is serving as a student assistant.
"I think it's good because we get to see their side of the story. We get to see their point of view and how they went through adversities in life and how they have overcome it."