Success Stories

Sports have and will always be a part of my life. Because of my involvement in basketball, dance and horseback riding, I have experienced great highs in my life. However, they have also given me some significant lows. Despite all of the pitfalls, I have moved forward, learning instead to grow stronger from my injuries. My left knee has been a problem since 1998.

During a basketball game at the CWOSSA championships in Grade 9, I was tripped and tore my ACL. WSM was the first place I was sent after getting x-rays. I began receiving physiotherapy. Dr. Lee suggested that I get an MRI which showed I had suffered a complete ACL tear. At that young age I was not mentally prepared for the injury, mostly because basketball was a major part of my life. I was also a very competitive dancer before I started playing and I only knew of success. I had since quit dance, but started horseback riding in addition to basketball. I was devastated, as I couldn't do either anymore. After my first ACL surgery , I worked extremely hard on my rehab and was back playing basketball by June of 1999.

Playing for WCI in my Grade 12 and OAC years were the highlights of my basketball career, winning both CWOSSA and OFSSA. After high school I was recruited to play basketball at Laurentain University in Sudbury. To my surprise, despite being in the best shape of my athletic life so far, in my second year, I blew out my knee in the first game, or so I thought. I had x-rays that showed nothing and as per usual I played through some major pain for the entire year but ended up back in surgery.

By March of 2007, I had had enough of being physically unable to do anything. I came back to WSM, as it had always been a reliable place. Dr. Lee requested another MRI. The results showed that my lateral meniscus was largely absent. It has been a very stressful road from being such an active athlete to finding it hard to do any physical activity. The mental aspect of ending a career is hard enough, having an injury do it for you is even harder.

I am so thankful to WSM for the continued support I receive. I knew there was a problem with my knee and the staff has done everything to help me find that problem. I have now followed my passion for the game of basketball and am coaching. I hope to coach University basketball in the future. After many conversations with Dr Lee, I want to be the type of coach that is aware of injury prevention because so many injuries can be contained and healed without becoming serious if the right precautions are taken. I have learned that listening to my body is the most important thing. Playing through pain will only get you so far.