St. John resident Barbara Watson had a story to tell and Cappers Weekly magazine was more than happy to tell it.
Barbara submitted the story of her late son Rudy’s life and tragic death to the publishers of Cappers for a series on events that were tragic, but had an uplifting story or outcome.
“A lot of people in St. John knew Rudy,” Watson said. “He loved to swim and the wading pool at the city pool was constructed with money from his memorial. I just thought this would bring back some fond memories for the people that knew him.
Story was originally printed in the March/April 2010 issue of CAPPER’S (www.Cappers.com).
Our first child, Rudy, was born in 1953 with osteogenesis imperfecta, better known as brittle bone disease. Because he was born with 18 broken bones, we weren’t sure Rudy would live, but he did. He came home a month later and he had several broken bones the first year of his life.
When Rudy started school, he was in a wheelchair. He continued to have broken bone and was frequently in traction. He had surgeries in which rods were put in his leg to help, but they were unsuccessful. He never complained, even though he was in pain much of the time. He usually had a smile and a silly joke to tell. A young boy once asked Rudy why he had braces on his legs, and Rudy replied that they were to give him straight teeth, then he showed the boy his teeth. Rudy never wanted sympathy.
I often became discouraged when Rudy broke a leg after just getting out of traction, but he always assured me that it would get better some day. He taught me to accept what life had to offer and not to complain.
Rudy had learned to swim and loved to go swimming at the city pool. He came home one day and told us he had saved a boy from drowning. Apparently the child had jumped into the pool before his father was ready. Rudy was quite proud of himself.
Being a baseball fan and never at a loss for words, Rudy often helped the announcers at local baseball games. A week after turning 13, Rudy and his dad went to a game and since the announcer’s box was locked, they sat in the bleachers.
A foul ball hit the light post behind him, bounced, then hit Rudy in the head. What would have resulted in a headache and a bump on the head for most people, unfortunately, crushed the fragile bones in Rudy’s head, and he died two days later.
His funeral service was held at the local high school auditorium, and the place was nearly full. When asked if anyone would like to say a few words about Rudy, one woman told the story of how she had witnessed Rudy’s lifesaving incident at the pool a few years earlier.
It was truly a blessing to have had Rudy in our lives for 13 wonderful years, even though he endured 52 broken bones during those years, and I know that he, too, considered it a blessing to be alive, because he enjoyed life to the fullest.
I feel fortunate to have been trusted with one of God’s special needs children, and I know that Rudy is in Heaven now, still smiling and spreading cheer.
St. John, Kan. —
