MIscellaneous #8

        I had to sit out my freshman year from tearing my quad, but I decided to go out for basketball again my sophomore year. I knew that I would be on the varsity team for sure that year, so I was really excited to go for it. I went through the summer workouts and camps and also conditioning. During our very first practice, I could feel my quad pulling just like it had done the previous year. I tried to forget about it and not think about it, hoping the pain would go away, but it didn't. I kept practicing on it thinking maybe it would get better. I kept going to my family chiropractor for therapy and massage, but nothing seemed to help. My chiropractor, Shad, told me that it was the worst quad tear that he had every witnessed, so I knew it wasn't good. I had numerous MRI's from this injury and they all showed the same thing. My freshman year, I had a hematoma on the top of my quadricep muscle, which is similar to a blood clot. I went to the same doctor my sophomore year that I had went to my freshman year, and he sat me down and told me that I should not play basketball anymore. I can remember sitting in the doctors office with my godmother, because my mom or dad could not go with me. I sat on the table with my teeth clenched and tears in my eyes. I didn't want to cry in the doctors office, because I didn't want to be a baby. I was so angry at the time, but deep down I knew it was probably for the best. Basketball was my third favorite sport, and my doctor told me if I wanted to be healthy for volleyball and softball I need to give up basketball. As soon as I got in the car with my godmother after we left the doctors, I broke down and cried. I could not believe that I was never going to play in a basketball game again. One of the worst parts of the whole experience was having to walk in the gym during practice and telling coach that I could not play anymore. He knew how upset I was, so he took it well, but it was very hard. I felt like I was letting my team and coaches down, but they were very understanding.