Dr. Moore.” Toly Clayton had driven the half hour to Missoula from the Clayton Cattle Ranch outside Stevensville, Montana, for an appointment with a neurosurgeon. He’d just undergone an electromyograph to get to the bottom of the numbness that had attacked his lower right forearm and hand.
“The needle I inserted in your arm muscle recorded electrical activity when it was at rest and when it was contracted. The procedure helped me determine that you have a nerve, not a muscle disorder. How long did you say you’ve been team roping?”
“I’ve done that and tie-down roping since my early teens.”
“That would explain the numbness that has come on. The constant strain over the years from roping has caused the nerves to be partially compressed or stretched. You say it has happened twice in practice?”
“Yes. Once in October, and again a few days ago. It was frightening to experience that loss of feeling. It only lasted a few minutes, but it was enough to prevent me from throwing the rope with any accuracy.”
“Did you feel sharp pains or discomfort in your forearm just before the onset?”
“No. That’s what worries me. Both times when it happened, I had no warning.”
“You told me in the examining room that you’ve had no sign of this affecting your feet or legs.”
“None. Does that mean I can expect that to happen too? What’s wrong with me?”
“You have a very mild form of peripheral Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a slow growing motor sensory neuropathy. It’s inherited through a gene carried down in the family. Do you know if you’ve ever had it in yours?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“Some people don’t even know they have it.”
“If it should happen while I’m throwing the rope during a performance at the National Finals Rodeo in December, everything’s over for that round and, of course, my partner suffers. We don’t get second chances.”
“I understand, but if such an incident occurs, you’ll still have strength in your upper arm.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be enough. Is there a medicine to stop this from happening?”
“Not that has been invented yet.”
“You mean there’s no cure for it?”
“No, but medical science is always working on a cure. I’ve been doing some research and can tell you they’re making strides with a new surgical technique.”
Adrenaline filled Toly’s system. “You mean there is one?”
“It’s been in the experimental stage for quite a while. The results aren’t a hundred percent yet.”
“What kind of results are you talking about?”
“In a few cases, surgery has slowed down the process. In a few others, it has stopped it.”
“What’s entailed?”
“The surgery would replace the damaged nerves in your forearm and hand with a new protein that would stimulate nerve cell growth. If successful, it could revolutionize the problem for those afflicted.”
“So there is some hope.”
“Of course. I’m still doing research on it. The procedure is being done in Paris, France, by a team of neuro and vascular surgeons.”
Paris... “If it were possible for me, how long would I have to stay there?”
“Two to three weeks depending on complications.”
“When the rodeo is over, I’d like to be a candidate.”
“I’m afraid it couldn’t be that soon.”
“But you will call me when you know anything, and make the arrangements for me?”
“I’ll get back to you after I’ve looked into it more. Just remember it’s possible that you’ll never have more than the occasional manifestation in your right arm. Call me if you have any more questions, and good luck!”
“Thank you, Dr. Moore. Once the rodeo is over I’ll be a full-time rancher and need to get better. You have no comprehension of what it would mean to me to fix this problem.”
“If not cured, at least slowed down. We’ll talk again soon.”
Toly left the doctor’s office determined that surgery would help him. Right now he could only hope that he and his partner, Mills, survived the punishing ten days ahead of them.
Anything could go wrong during a rodeo, but the thought of his hand not working for a few minutes had him the most worried. The condition had only manifested itself twice so far. He had to hope against hope it wouldn’t come on during their performance.
To Toly’s relief, Mills hadn’t realized what had happened in practice and he didn’t want him to know. Toly didn’t plan to tell anyone, not even his family. All he had to do was get through Finals and pray another incident during an actual round didn’t cause them to bomb.
Too bad this hadn’t happened six months ago. Perhaps he could have gone in for the experimental surgery and be recovered long before Finals. But there was no chance of that now. After the rodeo he would tell everyone he was going off on a month’s vacation to do some sightseeing for a change.
If the operation wasn’t successful, no one would be the wiser. Life would go on the same. He’d wait until the doctor found another team of surgeons to help him beat the disease.
* * *
“IN CASE YOU’RE a listener just tuning in, this is Jeb Riker from KFBR Sports Radio in Great Falls, Montana. It’s Friday, December 2, here in Great Falls, Montana. We’ve been broadcasting our Christmas show from the Ford dealership here in town since two o’clock this afternoon.
“What a turnout we have had to meet the three rodeo champions from our fair state headed to Las Vegas for this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo championship!
“All you dudes out there, come on in and meet the beautiful Nikki Dobson. She was last year’s Miss Rodeo Montana, and this year’s second-place finalist for the coveted national barrel racing championship. I don’t see a ring on her finger yet, guys.
“Guess what? She isn’t the only eligible celebrity who hails from the Sweet Clover Ranch here in Great Falls. We’ve got her twin brother Mills Dobson in house. He and his partner, Toly Clayton, from the Clayton Cattle Ranch in Stevensville, Montana, are the reigning team roping champions on the circuit headed for Las Vegas. Ladies? Get ready for this announcement. Both are still single!
“Guys and gals? Don’t miss this opportunity to meet these celebrities up close and personal. The next time you see them, they’ll be in Las Vegas where they’re scheduled to win national championships and be entered into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.”
Wouldn’t it be a miracle if that happened. Knowing what he
