Real Salt Lake’s table in the treatment room is often called the truth table. While on the table, the players are told the truth by RSL’s athletic trainers about their injuries and what it will take to get back on the field. The players often tell a lot of truths too – seeing the trainers as confidants in matters on and off the field.
In April, RSL Director of Sports Medicine Theron Enns faced some difficult truths while tending players on those very tables. Enns’ mother-in-law, Mary Gormly, had contracted coronavirus. Within a few days, she passed away.
For someone who spent his entire professional career focused on helping others, Enns was suddenly put in the position that he needed some support. In stepped Justin Meram. Little-by-little, the MLS veteran had become a close companion to Enns while undergoing treatment to a niggling injury during the early stages of the pandemic.
Players were only allowed in the Zions Bank Training Center’s treatment areas on a one-on-one basis to limit contamination. So Meram wound up making frequent visits with Enns throughout the process. He was there when Mary contracted the virus. He was there when Enns and his wife found out that it was terminal. And he was there when Mary Gormly passed away.
“It really flipped the world on its head,” said Enns, who is in his 22nd season working in MLS and third with RSL. “I try not to be someone who has to lean on other people. It’s hard for me to talk about those sort of things and reveal them.”
Enns was grateful to have the support of players like Meram and others around MLS. He used his own tragedy as an opportunity to engage and educate players about the dangers and harsh realities of the virus – not only for those infected, but also for their families.
In the days leading up to Gormly’s passing, Enns and his wife Marla were only able to visit over FaceTime. Afterwards, there was no funeral or chance to get together with family to mourn.
“It came home real quick and it lights a fire under you because you don’t want to see anyone go through what your family member went through,” Enns said.
Meram is in his first season with Real Salt Lake after nine seasons in the Eastern Conference with Columbus Crew SC, Orlando City and Atlanta United. One thing he has learned during that time is the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the club’s athletic trainers. In doing so, he has built a steady respect and appreciation for the work they do to maintain the health and careers of the players.
When he saw the strife and struggles of Enns and his family, he wanted to do something to help.
“They do anything and everything and they are always there for you. They sacrifice a lot. They have to travel and are away from their families as much as we are. That’s why we try to give them the credit they deserve,” Meram said. “When you know someone personally and you start to grow a relationship and you’re with him every day for treatment and he has something happen in his life, how can you give back? How can you show love and appreciation for his family? He would come to the facility on the weekends to take care of me? What can I do to take care of him and his wife?”
Three months later, Enns was able to take a delayed step in the grieving process during Real Salt Lake’s opening match of the MLS Is Back Tournament. In the 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids, RSL players wore patches below their uniform numbers on their jerseys as part of the MLS Unites program. Each patch has a phrase or person’s name related to the COVID-19 pandemic or the Black Lives Matter movement.
For Meram, the person he would recognize was an obvious choice – Mary Gormly.
“When you can do small things, sometimes it can go a long way,” Meram said. “I wanted to show appreciation for everything he has done for me and everything he has done for this club.”
After the match, Meram gave the jersey to Enns to commemorate the moment and further the tribute.
“I was humbled by the gesture. There was a tremendous response from the organization, from players, from the league, from people offering their condolences. It’s almost overwhelming,” Enns said. “I’m not used to that. I’m used to taking care of other people. So it was very kind of him.”
