Late last week, Bobby had surgery on his ankle, a procedure he thought would be no big deal.
He told his wife he wouldn’t need help and expected to be back on his feet by Monday. The plan sounded simple enough: doctors would scope his ankle and patch a small hole using cadaver cartilage. He compared himself to a professional athlete, joking that athletes have the same surgery all the time. When Amy questioned that logic, Bobby reminded everyone he had once won Dancing with the Stars and was MVP at the MLB All-Star Celebrity Softball Game. But reality hit hard. Recovery wasn’t as quick or painless as he’d imagined. His wife, who’s also pregnant, had warned him it would take longer, and she was right. Amy shared that she had texted Bobby’s wife after the surgery to check in, and her reply was honest: Bobby’s recovery would be more difficult than he expected.
The days that followed were rough. The pain got worse each night instead of easing up. Bobby described waking up in the middle of the night grabbing his knee, not because it hurt, but because he couldn’t reach his foot through the cast. He used bags of frozen broccoli and corn for ice, not wanting to bother his wife for fresh packs. Even simple tasks became humbling. His wife had to help him wrap his leg in plastic so he could shower. He laughed about it, but admitted it was a moment that tested his patience and pride. The highlight of one day came when she offered to take him on a drive, just to get out of the house. They didn’t go far, only to Sonic for a cup of water, but it felt like a small dose of freedom.
Bobby admitted he didn’t respect the process. He thought the surgery would be nothing, but instead, he’s been confined to bed or a chair, frustrated and in pain. “Mentally, I’m in a pretty terrible place,” he said. “It sucks. But this too shall pass.” The team encouraged him, reminding him it’s just a season. The conversation turned to how aging seems to come faster than expected. Bobby read a study that said “40 is the new 60” because people push their bodies harder than before by staying active, playing sports, and working out at full speed. He remembered exactly how the ankle injury started: a pickleball game at his friend Brett’s house. He lunged left, felt his ankle pop, and brushed it off. He played through the pain for a year and a half before it got bad enough to need surgery.
Now, he’s stuck resting: no workouts, no movement, and feeling heavier by the day. He joked that he’d gained 70 pounds in five days, though he hasn’t stepped on a scale to confirm it. Amy compared the feeling to what women experience during their monthly cycle: bloated, uncomfortable, and unable to explain why. Bobby laughed and called it his “ankle period.”
For now, his focus is on healing, finding humor in frustration, and accepting that even “professional athletes” need time to rest.