Hoiberg's advice for Maresh: You'll be OK

After undergoing aortic root surgery three years ago, the Timberwolves assistant GM realized how lucky he is.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: June 10, 2008 - 10:53 PM

Fred Hoiberg hasn't talked to Sam Maresh yet. But he hopes to. And if he does, his message will be simple:

"Think of yourself as lucky. You're going to get through this. You'll be OK."

Maresh, the prized Gophers football recruit from Champlin Park High School, needs surgery to replace or repair his aortic valve. It will not be an easy next few months for the young man. Hoiberg knows, because he's been through it.

Today he's an assistant general manager for the Timberwolves. Three springs ago, he was a Wolves guard, a 10-year NBA veteran coming off his two best seasons, who went to the doctor for a routine physical. Hoiberg was told he had an enlarged aortic root, which required immediate surgery. Suddenly, everything he knew was in jeopardy.

"For me, the first step was absolutely denial," he said. ''But once you get past that, reality sets in. You talk to specialists, and they all say the same thing: You need to get this fixed. Eventually the denial and the anger turns into realizing how fortunate you are that they found the problem."

Hoiberg's surgeon was Dr. Hartzell Schaff of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Schaff also will perform Maresh's surgery June 26.

For Hoiberg, surgery was followed by a long recovery that included setbacks and depression. Because he needed to have a pacemaker installed, he ultimately had to retire as a player. But he emerged healthy.

"Absolutely, I'm a better person than I was before,'' he said.

Hoiberg has shared that message many times. He befriended Ronny Turiaf when the Los Angeles Lakers center was diagnosed with an enlarged aortic root in 2005. Turiaf returned to playing six months after surgery. Hoiberg counseled Etan Thomas after the Washington Wizards center was diagnosed with a leaky aortic valve last fall. Thomas is expected to return next season.

Hoiberg, 35, said the toughest part is the recovery. "You have to lean on your family, you have to have their support," he said. "You talk to people about your recovery, you hope and pray you get better. But you do. You have to realize how fortunate we are to live in a time where technology can allow us to get through this."

Hoiberg knows Maresh is in for a difficult stretch, filled with questions. Will he play again?

First things first. Get the problem fixed, work hard on recovery. The rest will take care of itself.

Oh, and call, if you want to.

"You let him know that if he needs to talk, I'm here," Hoiberg said.

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