Kevin Ware talks with teammate Luke Hancock as he is tended to by medical personnel. (Photo: Streeter Lecka, Getty Images) INDIANAPOLIS — Just before 5:30 a.m. on Monday morning, Kevin Ware Sr. was preparing to go to work at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, and he had no idea how he would make it through the day. His mind was on his son, Kevin Jr., the University of Louisville guard who'd sustained a gruesome compound fracture of his tibia during the Cardinals' NCAA tournament win over Duke on Sunday. PREVIOUSY: Ware talks about gruesome injury RELATED: CBS analyst struggles with injury Then the father's cellphone buzzed. It was his son. "Dad," Kevin Jr. said excitedly, despite his condition and the early hour. "They said I can walk today. They said I can walk." Kevin Sr. said he tried to calm his son, tried to make sure he didn't go too far, too fast. But later on Monday, there was Kevin Jr., standing with the help of crutches, taking some gentle steps. "It really brought my spirits up," Kevin Jr. said by phone from his hospital bed here Monday night, his voice groggy. "And it's kind of hard to keep your spirits up in a situation like this." ALSO: Louisville turns tragedy into victory POWERFUL IMAGES: Louisville reacts to injury Ware said he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support since his injury. He received calls from Dwight Howard and Charles Barkley. He received a visit from NCAA president Mark Emmert. He lied in bed and scrolled through his Twitter feed, where there were messages from NBA stars like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo. "I've never had this much support in my life," Ware said. "Like, I'm just so grateful for it, you know?" I wanna thank the NCAA president for coming to visit me today. He loved my character dealing with this situation. Much respect!! — Kevin Ware (@_billionairebev) April 1, 2013 The past 24 hours, Ware said, were mostly a blur. When he suffered the injury in the first half of the Duke game, planting awkwardly on his right leg as it snapped like a toothpick, he thought he had just sprained his ankle. Then he saw the look of horror in Cardinals coach Rick Pitino's eyes. Then he looked at his leg and saw the chunk of bone that had punctured his skin. Then he immediately went into shock. Ware Sr., watching from New York, said he thought he was going to have a heart attack in his home. Ware Jr. remembered Louisville forward Luke Hancock coming over and comforting him. He remembered Hancock saying a prayer, a powerful moment in a suddenly silent arena. "And that made me just go into Kevin mode," Ware said. "I just told Luke, 'I'm good. Just win this game.' I just kept repeating that. I got louder and louder and Russ was there and I'm pulling their jerseys, trying to get in their face like, 'Ya'll got to win this game.' When they took me off the court, I heard so many cheers, and I'm like 'When I'm out of surgery, there's gonna be some good news." Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware is up and about on crutches one day after severely breaking his right leg. (Photo: @KKcards) Ware relayed this story to his father on Monday morning. He told him how he was just concerned about his teammates. "That probably was the moment that really broke me," Ware Sr. said. "Like, 'Wow, my kid is my hero.'" Louisville won the game, 85-63, and advanced to the Final Four. Within an hour after suffering the injury, Ware was in surgery. Soon after he woke up, he called his mother, Lisa Junior, and simply told her, 'Mom, please stay calm.' Lisa and Ware's stepfather, Wesley Junior, flew to Indianapolis early Monday morning. Ware's girlfriend, Brittany, was at the Duke game and never left his side. After his surgery Sunday night, Ware watched some highlights of the game and even held the Midwest regional championship trophy, which Pitino had brought to the hospital. But he was so heavily medicated, he said, that when he woke up Monday morning he didn't remember any of that. Then he saw the trophy still sitting there, tall and shimmering, and the memories flooded back. Ware received several visitors on Monday, including Pitino and his son, former Louisville assistant Richard Pitino. On Monday evening, a gift basket of chocolate and strawberries arrived from an unknown recipient in Ann Arbor, Mich. Although Ware was encouraged by his early progress, he knows there is a long road ahead. Doctors have told him he could play basketball by next October, which is just over six months away. But for now, Ware's focus is on his team, his guys. He expects to be released from the hospital on Tuesday so he can return to Louisville. He is hoping to join his teammates in Atlanta for the Final Four; doctors just have to be certain his leg does not become infected. "It's 50-50 right now that I'll go," Ware said, "but I'd say more on the good side of 50-50." And that best sums up these trying times for Kevin Ware. Despite all he has been through, despite the injury and the pain and being separated from his brothers, he is still hopeful, still optimistic, still fighting. Adam Himmelsbach writes for the Louisville Courier-Journal, a Gannett property. BEST NCAA TOURNAMENT PHOTOS FROM THE ELITE EIGHT Story Highlights

Monday, April 1, 2013
When Kevin Ware's father realized 'my kid is my hero'
Louisville Cardinals guard/forward Luke Hancock gives encouragement to guard Kevin Ware as Ware is taken off the court on a stretcher in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino gets a hug from forward Chane Behanan and guard Russ Smith after the Midwest regional final against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports
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Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee shoots against the Louisville Cardinals during the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Louisville won 85-63. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng shoots against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals players celebrate with the Midwest regional championship trophy and the jersey of injured teammate Kevin Ware after defeating the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals players Chane Behanan, bottom, Peyton Siva, right, and Russ Smith react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng wrestles for a loose ball on the floor with Duke Blue Devils guard Rasheed Sulaimon in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium. Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals players Russ Smith, left, Gorgui Dieng, center, and Chane Behanan react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports
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Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Ryan Kelly in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports
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Duke Blue Devils guard Seth Curry holds the ball away from Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports
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Michigan Wolverines guard Nik Stauskas (11) shoots a three-point shot against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
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Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) blocks the shot of Florida Gators forward Will Yeguete (15) in the first half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
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Michigan Wolverines guard Corey Person (32) celebrates as his team defeats the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports
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Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates in the first half against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
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Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) starts the fast break defended by Florida Gators center Patric Young (4) in the second half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Michigan defeated Florida 79-59. Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
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Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4), Nik Stauskas (11) and the bench celebrate as they defeat the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
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Michigan Wolverines forward Jordan Morgan (52) tries to tip the ball loose from Florida Gators guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) during the second half of the South regional final game in the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
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Florida Gators guard Casey Prather (24) dunks the ball between Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) and Glenn Robinson III (1) in the first half of the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports
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Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall celebrates cutting down the net after beating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
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Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports
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Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
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Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
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Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
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Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
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Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports
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Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
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