Thomas Dale alum Roger Bothe’s athletic resume is impeccable. He was a member of the Knights’ back-to-back state championship teams in 2005 and 2006; including a header to win the match in the second overtime period for Thomas Dale’s first state crown. Bothe went on to have a successful career at William and Mary, and played a season for the Richmond Kickers professionally.
If you watched Bothe ten years ago, you’d think he was superman. After his first professional season, Bothe fell ill and it was eventually found that he had advanced lyme disease. Things haven’t been the same since, but the former Knight has learned many lessons about life, and not just because he’s had the time to.
“I’ve recognized what’s important in life,” Bothe said. “Everyone gets caught up in the “what am I going to do?” thing after high school,” he continued. “What I’ve realized is that I feel the most alive when I’m giving to others – that realization is something beautiful.”
Lyme disease is contracted from a deer tick, a common insect in Virginia. If a tick bites someone, after 24-36 hours of being embedded in the skin, infection can start to spread. When caught early, it’s trivial to treat, but when undetected, the infection ravages the body and the antibiotics used to treat the disease take down the immune system. In the later stages, it becomes embedded in one’s autonomic nervous system, affecting both the senses and motor skills.
Bothe was actually misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010- a common mistake by doctors. A few months after the MS scare, a blood test showed he had lyme disease. By Bothe’s estimation, this may have stemmed from a tick bite he got in Williamsburg in 2010. The disease has debilitated Bothe to the point where he cannot stand for more than a few moments. Bothe cannot drive, cannot be physically active, and had to stop helping coach soccer at Thomas Dale. Stopping athletic activities, when it’s all he has known, has proven to be difficult.
“It’s so humbling,” Bothe said. “To have a physical body that could do anything I wanted it to. This is quite a contrast; it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”
To list more of Bothe’s accolades: he was the 2006 Virginia Boys’ Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year, a state champion for the Knights in 2005 and 2006, a two time Central District Champion in Cross County, a 2008 All-CAA defender at William and Mary, a co-captain for the Tribe in 2009 and to top it off, played soccer professionally.
The teams he played for in high school had a combined four year record of 90-4. To hear Thomas Dale Head Coach Mark Fowler talk about Bothe is like hearing a father talk about a son, though Fowler has three talented sons as both Evan and Vaughn Fowler currently play soccer at Longwood, and his oldest son, Griff, is a graduate student at Longwood.
“He’s a great kid with a fabulous attitude,” Fowler said. “He would run through a brick wall. He was such an old tough center back in college.”
Despite the physical problems that Bothe has endured, he’s had a bit of a spiritual pilgrimage, reading many books and strengthening his relationship with God. He’s also strengthened his relationship with friends and family, and from an emotional standpoint, he’s awakened.
“The bonds forged and strengthened with my friends because of the illness are a major silver lining.” Bothe said. “The rawness of the situation creates an atmosphere that is so genuine and loving between friends.”
Fowler and the founder of an organization called the “Fat Boys” have decided to put on a benefit game for Bothe who’s undergoing weekly infusion treatments to try to turn back the disease’s effects. The game will be at 7 p.m. on April 25 at Thomas Dale High School. It will include players and coaches from several area schools, including Cosby, Midlothian, and Clover Hill.
“It’s a fundraiser,” Fowler said. “But it’s also to get some guys together and show Roger some appreciation and some support; he’s had a tough time.”
Bothe also hopes this raises awareness, because he hadn’t even heard of lyme disease when he was diagnosed with it – since it’s a progressive disease, early detection is key should it be contracted from a tick bite. Also important to know, Lyme disease is not contagious.
Despite his health, Bothe says that he at least plans to show up to the end of the game to thank his supporters. That will surely lift the spirits of all involved. If interested in the game or the cause, contact Mark Fowler at Thomas Dale High School.
