Thread: My husband, the stranger

My husband, the stranger

• By Kenetria Harris

Last week Kenetria Harris, a former stockbroker and wife of Chicago Bears safety Chris Harris, wrote about game-planning with Chris. This week she tells espnW about her role as trainer to her temporarily hobbled hubby -- and the inspiration she's drawn from his intensity.



Throughout the week, I've noticed a few changes in my husband, Chris. From the way he walks, to the way he talks, to that "eye of the tiger" look in his eyes, this stranger I once called my husband now exhibits a sense of purpose, focus, determination and confidence that I've never seen, in this magnitude, from him ever before. I must admit that this man -- this stranger -- known as my husband truly has me feeling inspired. I've fallen in love with him and this game all over again.



After the Bears beat Seattle last Sunday, all the fans and players were extremely motivated and pumped. Chris had left the game at halftime with a slight hip pointer, and his first words to me that evening were, "Baby, there's nothing but an act of God that will keep me from playing next week. One of the biggest games of my career? There's no way I am missing it."



Though I loved seeing this level of determination in him, I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about Chris' words, because the extent of his injury was still unknown. On Monday he delivered the news to me that he would require treatment all week, and would probably be held out of practice as a precautionary measure. He informed me that he would be practically living at the Bears' facility for the next couple of days, getting treatment that would get his hip ready for the NFC Championship Game. When he told me it would be all-treatment, all-the-time, I asked him, "Would you like me to pack your toothbrush, clean underwear and socks?"



Chris assured me that he will only play if he's feeling 100 percent on game day. So each day this week, when he returns home from the facility, we've placed ice treatments on his thigh every hour, and passed the icing time by watching highlights on NFL Network and ESPN until our bedtime. We've made sure to surround ourselves with only positive things, people and vibes this week, so as to not only aid in his healing, but also to help keep up this sense of purpose and determination that is now who we are. He says the primary goal this week is to make sure that he helps his team, in any and every way, bring the Halas Trophy back home to the Chicago Bears.