Sleepless, scary nights and diaper duty changed Nolan Jones. For that, he is forever thankful.
“Kamryn changed my life,” the Rockies outfielder said. “The love I feel for her is unexplainable. Now, she’s starting to reciprocate with her smiles and her laughs. It’s the best thing I’ve ever experienced.”
The birth of Jones’ first child, followed by her health scare and recovery, gave Jones a precious gift.
Perspective.
“My own parents (Tom and Regina) sacrificed so much for me, and I could not ask for anything more,” Jones said. “Now, getting the opportunity to be there for Kamryn is so special to me. It’s definitely changed my outlook because when I get off the field after going 0 for 4 with four strikeouts and two errors, or if I go 5 for 5, Kamryn’s going to be there and all she wants is a big hug and a big kiss.”
Jones’ fiancée, Morgan Gouger, gave birth to Kamryn May on Aug. 4. There were immediate complications. Kamryn struggled to breathe and fluid collected in her lungs. She spent three days in the neonatal intensive care unit, and even after she came home, Kamryn required supplemental oxygen for more than a month.
“It was definitely scary,” Jones said. “I had no idea what to expect. And then there are 10 nurses in the room shoving tubes down (Kamryn’s) throat.
“And, I mean, I had no idea about how to be a dad, just in general. There is no manual on how to do it. And then, at the same time, I was trying to get healthy and was going through a rough season. When I was gone on the road with the team, I was still trying to figure out how to be there with Morgan as much as possible. It was a whirlwind, no question.”
When Kamryn was born, Jones was already dealing with the headwinds of a disappointing, injury-marred season.
“I was bad last year,” he said. “Wait, I was terrible. I know I was terrible, so now I’m looking to bounce back and play free and confident again.”
The outfielder’s disappointment in the 2024 season was magnified by his success in ’23 when he finished fourth in voting for National League Rookie of the Year. He became the first rookie in major league history to have 20 home runs, 20 steals and 19 outfield assists in the same season. He accomplished all of that in just 106 games after making his Rockies debut on May 26.
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Source:: The Denver Post – Sports
