It was supposed to be nothing more than a quick ride to the store, but a small crack in the sidewalk changed everything. I went down, and just like that, plans for basketball, boating and endless outdoor fun were put on hold.
I broke my radius and dislocated my ulna, which led to a long night in the emergency room. They coordinated with Twin Cities Orthopedics and shared my case with Dr. Amy Moeller, who had treated me earlier that spring for a basketball-related thumb injury. By the next morning, Dr. Moeller’s team had reached out, and surgery was scheduled for the following day.
What followed was not just recovery. It was a mental and physical grind.
1,630 hours watching practices from the sidelines. 5,000 right-hand-only shots. 540 minutes of one-on-one, controlled basketball training. 350 minutes of right-hand-only ball handling. 12 physical therapy appointments.
After 97 mentally and physically exhausting days, I was finally given the green light to play basketball again, fully, freely and without restrictions. There were days I asked, ‘Why me? Will I ever get back?’ With the incredible support of the staff at TCO and everyone around me, I kept pushing.
All of that work paid off. In my first game back, I scored 14 points. That moment did not happen alone. It was made possible by the incredible care from Dr. Moeller and her team, the TCO hand therapy staff, and an unwavering network of family, trainers, coaches, teammates and friends.
What started as a simple summer outing became a powerful reminder of resilience, faith, and just how much heart it takes to fight your way back to the court.
