By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Junior guard Max Bishop will not be taking the court for the Covington Catholic boys’ basketball team this season, but his name remains on the Colonels’ varsity roster and in the official scorebook.
Three months ago, Max needed a bone marrow transplant to combat severe aplastic anemia, a rare condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells causing a higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding.
Max’s younger brother, Anthony, was able to donate the bone marrow, but there’s an extensive recovery period involved. Doctors told Max that his immune system won’t be strong enough for him to return to school until April.
“I was really looking forward to playing on the varsity (basketball) team my junior year, but I was forced to stop practicing in May due to my illness and the fact that I needed to have another transplant to treat it,” Max wrote in an email.
“The fact that coach (Scott) Ruthsatz kept my name on the roster means a lot to me because it shows the tremendous support I have from him and everyone involved in the basketball program at CovCath.”
Doctors want Max to remain at home until his immune system is strong enough to ward off infections. But the 17-year-old Crescent Springs resident surprised everyone when he made an appearance at the CovCath basketball team’s first home game on Dec. 4 against Ludlow.
When he entered through a back door wearing a surgical mask that covered most of his face, the CovCath student section stood and applauded their classmate. He didn’t get to stay for the game, but he wanted to be there to show how much he appreciated their support.
Before the game, the school’s spirit club sold 400 t-shirts with Max’s name and jersey number on the back. The money was donated to Max’s parents, Bob and Julie Bishop, to help pay for his medical expenses. Ludlow’s head coach bought t-shirts for all of his players to wear during pre-game warm-ups.
“It feels good to know that I’m not alone in this,” Max said. “Everyone’s support has been a great motivator for me.”
This is the second time that Max has dealt with severe aplastic anemia. When he was first diagnosed in 2007, his younger brother turned out to be a perfect match for the bone marrow transplant. Anthony was only 2 years old at that time.
“I was very blessed to have a match in my family, but not everyone is so lucky,” said Max, who encourages everyone to become a member of the National Bone Marrow Registry that provides donors for people who need a lifesaving transplant.
Max earned a spot on the CovCath varsity basketball roster last season when the Colonels won the 9th Region championship for the second consecutive year and made it to the semifinals of the state tournament. He expected to get even more playing time this season, but his medical problem didn’t give him a chance.
While he was in the hospital, Max said his girlfriend, Mackenzie Wessel, spent several hours with him when he wasn’t feeling well. He also received a photo of the entire junior class at CovCath that lifted his spirits.
“They all signed it and presented it to me in the hospital the day after my transplant, which was really cool,” he said. “I kept it in my hospital room the whole time I was hospitalized and now it hangs above my bed in my room at home as a constant reminder of their support.”
Max has been keeping up with this schoolwork while he’s recuperating at home. His teachers send him assignments via email. He’s also using online tools like Skype live webcasts and YouTube videos to see what’s going on in class.
“At this point, the doctors expect that my immune system may be strong enough to return to school in April.” Max said. “I’m looking forward to being with all my friends again when I can finally return to school.”