As he absorbed six chemotherapy treatments, there were times Berry would later say he felt like he was dying.
There were days when just getting out of bed was a major goal as he found himself thinking he was battling himself every day, too.
Maybe the sheer duality of emotions for all was best embodied in the reaction of the twins.
The twin that I thought was going to be the emotional one was fine. He just kept asking me, Is it true? You sure? Really? Carol Berry said, without specifying which was which. The other twin, the one whos so tough, he broke down.
As those opposing sentiments pulled at her, Carol kept turning to her religious faith and kept telling herself, You cant fall apart in a crisis.
At least not all the time.
I know people do, she said, but youve got to keep it going.
So shed reach back and do things like print and frame signs around the house banning negative energy. And shed turn to friends and other NFL mothers for support.
It helped, too, to feel the Chiefs Kingdom and the Vol Nation, she said, covering and protecting them.
We had to stay positive, she said, because so many people were looking to him for encouragement.
It was one thing for Eric Berry to emerge from chemo a pound heavier than he had been, apparently bolstered by James Berry cooking him three meals a day.
It was another to be declared cancer-free on June 22.
It was quite another to be ready to play as fast as he was.
I knew hed be back in time for this year, Carol Berry said, but for training camp?!
And showing ever since that he still has it in him to overtake about any opponent he encounters.
