New Mexico assistant Ryan Miller might be the nation's only coach who finds the July evaluation period's infamous whirlwind travel schedule to be a welcome respite from what he has already endured in May and June.
Since Miami Heat forward Mike Miller's daughter Jaelyn was born May 19 with severe health problems including four holes in her heart, Ryan has been in a state of sleep-deprived disorientation. He has made a half dozen cross-country flights between Albuquerque and Miami the past few weeks, doing his best to help his younger brother cope with Jaelyn's condition yet prepare for a deep playoff run after a decade of never making it past the first round.
He brought Mike cups of coffee when he was up all night with his daughter in a neonatal intensive care unit for 10 days. He drove Mike from the hospital to the arena and back before and after practices and games. And he made sure Mike was still eating healthy when nutrition was the last thing on the NBA veteran's mind.
"I was just being as supportive as I can," Ryan said by phone Friday. "That's what a family does when a family member is in need of help and support. My niece was in trouble health-wise, so any little thing me and the rest of my family could do, we were going to do."
Whereas Mike might have been able to take time away from basketball had Jaelyn been born another time of year, the fact that she was born the day after game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals has made things more difficult. Miller's parents were actually visiting him in Albuquerque the day Jaelyn was born, but all three of them immediately flew to Miami upon learning there were complications.
First the umbilical cord wrapped around Jaelyn's neck so tightly that she wasn't getting enough blood. Then she swallowed amniotic fluid. And finally she was breathing rapidly, leading doctors to perform tests that confirmed Jaelyn's tiny heart had three small holes and a medium-sized one.
Jaelyn has since stabilized enough that she was able to come home after 10 days in intensive care. She will be re-evaluated over the next three months to determine if she'll eventually require heart surgery.
The health of his niece is the most important thing to Ryan, but he's also thrilled Mike hasn't allowed the health scare to impact his chance to win his first championship. Mike has provided a spark off the bench at times for Miami, scoring 12 points in Game 4 of Eastern Conference Finals against Chicago and nine Thursday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Dallas.
"As a kid you grow up dreaming of being in the environment he's in playing in the NBA Finals," Ryan said. "With the birth of his daughter, you understand it's not everything, but it's still a dream. I'm very proud of him the way he's handled everything."
Ryan has been close with Mike since they played against one-another on the driveway and in tournaments as kids, so he's very appreciative that New Mexico coach Steve Alford has been understanding of his travel schedule. He was in Dallas for Thursday night's Game 5 loss that put the Heat in a 3-2 hole and he intends to be in Miami for Games 6 and 7.
"It's been an exciting time and a trying time," Ryan said. "I'll be happy when it's over."
He just hopes that it ends Tuesday not Sunday. And with Mike celebrating the improving health of his daughter and his first NBA championship.
Carrie Underwood Rosario Dawson Tricia Helfer Elena Lyons Brooke Burns
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