For those who don’t know, at the beginning of October I partially tore my MCL and meniscus while at practice. Not only that, I did it two days before our first game and on my birthday. That was a real blow to my time here in Ireland. One of the many reasons I chose to apply to the Victory Scholar program was to have the opportunity to continue my basketball career. So naturally, for me to endure a serious injury days before our first game was devastating.
The recovery process has been extremely slow-going. It took a while for me to see a doctor, get a referral for a MRI, and see an orthopedic surgeon in Waterford. Thankfully, the orthopedic surgeon did not recommend surgery. That was a huge victory for me after waiting so long to get a diagnosis. Then came the start of the recovery process. After meeting with a physio, I started a workout program to rebuild my lower body strength. Slowly, I worked my injured knee to the point where I could jog and eventually sprint in straight lines.
I recently was cleared to start change of direction work and reintegrate myself into practice. I also did a shooting workout for the first time since the injury. Let me tell you, it felt fantastic to lace up my basketball shoes again and be able to move (almost) like I used to. I’ve never been so happy to go in and shoot around in my life. I’ve had my fair share of sprained ankles and minor injuries, but nothing as severe as this.
Sitting on the sidelines watching your teammates work out and get to know each other better on the court without you starts to take its toll mentally. I hated sitting there watching practices those first few weeks and not be able to contribute to my team. The injury helped me put everything in perspective and truly appreciate my love for the sport of basketball. My teammates and coaches have been extremely supportive – I couldn’t have made it through the recovery process without their help. After missing half the season with the Wildcats and a few games with the college, I’m ready to get back on the court and make the most of the time I have left with my teammates here in Ireland.