Sports Lessons

I’ve always been into sports since I was a young girl. I’ve played my whole life it was my whole world. One day after moving schools playing with a new team it was summer club season and we were going to be the winning team. It was the championship game in a volleyball tournament and my team was only a few points behind, the setter set me the ball and POP...  

Next thing I knew the game was over, the opposing team won, and my back was in pain. Little did I know the pop was serious and I’d soon pay the consequences. I continued to play both volleyball and basketball and looking back at it, that was probably my downfall. I should’ve stopped and healed before I went back to playing, but being the stubborn athlete, I am, I played the whole summer. The next day after one of my basketball tournaments, I couldn’t move. I was lying in my bed getting back spasms, not being able to move my legs or even get up to walk.

I went to the doctor after going to chiropractors and was told I had a protruding disk in my back that was touching my leg nerves. This caused me to miss out on a whole year of sports and endure a year of physical therapy. This experience has changed me, I’ve seen how much people take walking for granted. We were born with legs, but not everyone’s works and it’s a gift to have two legs that you are able to use. I discovered this blessing the long days where my friends got to go play sports and go out and I was stuck at home on bed rest.

The protruding disk in my back will be with me forever and every now and then I get the pain when I stand or sit for long periods of time. I’ve grown to never take for granted all the blessing I have, and I learned who I was aside from an athlete and I am proud of the strong and independent young woman I have become.