Boise State quarterback Rathen Ricedorff is at his third school in just over three years. Yet, learning the offense and competing for a spot on the team is not his greatest challenge.
His wife has also been in the hospital for more than two weeks now, fighting a condition that’s still unknown to doctors.
Since March 1, Kizzy Ricedorff has been in the hospital fighting a nerve condition that is still not fully diagnosed,” Dave Southorn of The Idaho Statesman reported. “Rathen said doctors believe it to be a virus that has attacked her central nervous system.”
In the fall of 2015, Kizzy was heading into her senior year as a volleyball at Arizona State. But before the season, she lost all feeling in her right hand.
As a graduate transfer at Boise State, she was supposed to play her senior season with the Broncos. But a few weeks into practice, Kizzy got sick.
“It’s been a nightmare,’’ the quarterback said, per Southorn. “It happened a year and a half ago, these same exact symptoms. Now she’s dealing with them again; they still don’t know how to treat it. We’re praying to find some kind of conclusion to all this, find some answers.’’
Kizzy has been supported well by the Boise State Football team. She tweeted a photo taken at her hospital bed, with coach Bryan Harsin and offensive coordinator Zak Hill visiting.
Additionally, members of the Boise State team have come by to sing for her.
A few BSU D-line boys came to sing to tonight. What a special gift! We all Loved it! @kizzyrice10 @RathenR10 #bsufootball pic.twitter.com/nNfWU2JRQT
— Cindy Willey (@Ladygriz10) March 14, 2017
This is certainly not a challenge that anyone should be going through at such a young age.
The only positive is that for the entire Broncos team (especially Ricedorff), it does offer perspective. Compared to what Kizzy and her family are experiencing, losing a starting position or even a game doesn’t seem like such a big deal.