My Story

Since the age of five, I’ve played soccer. Wanting to try something new, my sophomore year I decide to play basketball. My life took a 180 degree turn. I had challenges, setbacks, and a change in my life. I remember, like it was yesterday. 

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It was the end of January when it all turned around. I was directed by the coach to cut off the lane in the basketball game. So, I went out and did exactly as I was told. It was that moment when it all happened. The girl was suppose to stop, when I cut off the lane! That’s what my coach said she would do! Instead, she kept trucking through me. The impact catapulted me through the air. I fell immediately to the ground. My knee! It was the worst pain I had ever felt. I laid there, trying to hold back the tears. My biggest fear was becoming reality. I knew I had I torn my ACL. Both coaches and the trainer ran over to me. As I laid on the gym floor I rolled over to my stomach and pulled my head up, just enough to make eye contact with my mom in the bleachers. I have only ever made eye contact with my mom during an event if something was seriously wrong. Mom knew by my look, something was not okay. As my parents watched from the stands, the trainer did the check for an ACL tear. A thumbs up to my mom, no tear. Relief! I was going to be okay, but Coach Garber carried me off the court anyways. Maggie did the normal protocol for an injury and iced it immediately. I took some Advil to kill the pain. A hyperextended hamstring, I could live with that.

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A week went by with pain continuing anytime I put pressure on it, which meant no practice or games. I attended the practices but would go to the training room for exercise and therapy. Maggie continued to predict a two week recovery and expected me to be back to finish out the season. Approaching the end of the first week, the pain was still not subsiding. It was while at my chiropractor appointment, that he suggested that I have an MRI to rule out any tears. In the meantime, the trainer was still convinced that it was nothing to be concerned about and that I would be practicing again by the middle of the week. Now, Wednesday, the day after the MRI, it was just a matter of waiting for the results. As one o’clock approached, I text my mom, “Any results?”, knowing that the doctor expected to have them by then. One thirty and I text my mom again…”Anything yet?” Her response, “No, not yet.” Three o’clock hits and now I’m excited to get back to B- balling. As I arrived in the gym I wondered why my whole family was there. Upon my approach, my mom said “Elise we need to talk to you. Sit down.” So, I sat down on the bleachers, ready for her to tell me I was able to practice. Those weren’t the words that I heard. What I heard was, “Elise you have a partial tear in your ACL.” I broke down, crying hysterically. I couldn’t control it. I was devastated. “My junior year and I wouldn’t be able to play soccer?” It was the year that our team was to be the best ever. I pulled myself together, as much as I could, and walked into the locker room to tell my teammates. 

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Fast forward a few weeks to the appointment with my surgeon. Now, time to see what was next. At the appointment, the surgeon tested my knee and confirmed what I didn’t want to hear. He recommended two weeks of prehab to insure the best recovery results. “Great”, I thought holding back tears, “more wasted time.” Next were the details of the surgery and the discussion of my rehab. He asked me when I wanted to be back on the field. I told him July/August. He told me there would be no way, and that even the professional players didn’t come back before six months. I had five. I was angry! I was determined that I would be back in five. I would hear nothing else. With two weeks of prehab complete, it was finally time for the surgery. Success, but there was just one added problem; a full ACL tear but now it was repaired and stronger than ever, according to the doctor. Now I could get started on my road to recovery. Time was ticking. Each month welcomed a monthly appointment as well as rehab two to three times a week, and on the off days I rehabed on my own. I was playing soccer my junior year!

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August 3rd, and another monthly appointment. My muscles are back in my leg. I have full extension; both, the requirements that my doctor needed to see from me. We talked. “What do I need now to be ready to play soccer?” As he signed the clearance, I knew my hard work had paid off. Over the five months I faced many challenges and I knew they weren’t over. All have had an affect on how I view things now. I realize I wouldn’t change a thing, hard work prevails, and if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

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But that is not where the journey ended……