The worst news of my life,

by Melissa
(Florida)

I am 17 years old and I have been playing soccer ever since I could remember, about 3 or 4 years old. It truly is my life. But on friday December 10th, 2010.. I was playing in one of my highschool games when a girl was dribbling towards me with the ball. Instinctly, I went in for a tackle by planting my left foot and going to kick with my right. Unfortunetly, some how the girl kept going through my right leg bringing it with her forward, and my left knee made the loudest pop. Immediatly I went down screaming, as I layed there crying looking up at the sky I prayed it wasn't anything too serious. As I was moved to the bench, the trainer told me that she thinks it's my ACL. I couldn't believe it. So when I went to get my MRI on the following monday I just expected the worst so anything else wouldn't seem as bad. I took the MRI results to the knee doctor that same day. He told me I tore my ACL & Meniscus. I couldn't help but cry. My dad wanted the surgery to get done with asap so I can hopefully recover in time to come back my senior year & get the scholarship i've been working so hard for my whole life. I went to physical therapy for about two weeks before my surgery on dec.27th, 2010. I was really nervous so in my head I just thought that after it was over with, everyday i'll slowly be getting better and better until I can finally play again.

So as of right now, I am on my 5th week after surgery and I go back to therapy in one more week.

Well thank you for reading my story, anyone who is passionate about their sport as I am to soccer, I know exactly how you feel. It'll be hard work in therapy and training again but we'll get through this and be as good or even better as we were before :) AND get our scholarship! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I would love to talk to anyone who has gone through the same thing but haven't had surgery yet, and especially to anyone who's already had their surgery and is playing again (I have questions for you).