They say the third time is the charm, and maybe it is. After all, my left ACL is fully in-tact. This is an accomplishment for a knee which has undergone three reconstructive surgeries. However, it is easy to forget the probability of injury of the opposite knee. And it is for this reason I tell my story.

                Basketball has always consumed my life. I was brought to the gym in a baby carrier to watch basketball before I knew what it was. I joined my first real team while I was in second grade. Eventually I juggled a school team, a city team, and a summer team. I loved every minute of it. Once I reached high school, I was given the opportunity to play on the varsity level. My prep career began on an ultimate high; state champions. Sophomore year followed as runners-up. My junior year brought about something I had yet to experience, injury. On December 23^rd of 2014 we were playing against our conference rival. I stole the ball at half court and went for a routine Fastbreak layup - probably as I did hundreds of times before; but this time was different. I suffered a non-contact ACL injury. Little did I know how impactful this would be in my future career. After surgery, diligently rehabbing for several months, and a few tears of frustration, I was able to return for my senior year. I was able to play the sport I loved again after (what I thought) was a difficult seven months. My senior year we accomplished becoming conference champions for the fourth time in a row. I was also presented the opportunity to play at the Division I level with Coach Borseth and the Green Bay Phoenix. Without hesitation, I accepted.

                My first few months were difficult in the sense they are for any freshmen. The mornings were earlier, the workouts were harder, the classrooms were different, and at the end of the night you went back to a dorm room. But after a few months, it finally felt normal, due largely to the best friends I had created through my teammates. However, my train of normal was derailed when I re-tore my left ACL on January 21^st of 2017. Once again, we were playing our conference rival, this time UW-Milwaukee. I had gotten into the game for the last few minutes and remember being hit while having the ball on the block. Not knowing exactly what happened, I played through the final minute. After the game I went through a procedure I already knew; the Lachman's test, a MRI, and the waiting of results. For a second time I was told my ACL was torn. I knew this meant surgery and several months of frustrating rehab. One of my teammates and best friends tore her ACL less than a month later. I was devastated for her. I knew the frustration she was about to endure. The only positive, we were able to lean on one another during the process. As heartbroken as I was for her, I was grateful we were able to share the journey. ACL injuries are one of those things where once you have been through the process, you recognize them wherever you go. You may be walking through the grocery store and see someone wearing a post-surgery ACL brace. Your heart instantly goes out to them as you know the struggles they are currently facing - unable to tie their own shoes, the lack of ability to bend their knee, the feeling of independence being gone, etc.

                While rehabbing my second ACL, people started to ask, "Will you return to basketball?" I thought it was a silly question. Of course I would. There was not a doubt in my mind at this time. The process was going smoothly. During October (9 months after surgery), I was starting the return to sport procedure. Returning to contact first entails getting cleared for 1 vs. 1, followed by 2 vs. 2, etc. While in the 4 vs. 4 step, the unthinkable happened. I was hit while going up for rebound and my knee gave out for a third time. I thought I had experienced the worst of heart-break, being unsure if I would get to do what I loved most ever again. There were several skeptics. The first decision I had to answer was where I would harvest an ACL graft from. My own body was running out of strong, accessible grafts. Therefore, it was decided I would use a donor graft. After my surgery I had the opportunity to write to the family of donor graft. I took advantage of it, and I am grateful I did. I expressed my deepest gratitude for a gift I would never be able to repay. And to my delighted surprise, the family responded. It was an incredible life lesson and reminder of perspective. Once again, THANK YOU STEVEN!

The days after my third reconstructive surgery followed and were nothing short of difficult. In order to get through them, I rehabbed every day as if I would play again. I didn't know what else I could do. I knew there was still a possibility I wouldn't play, but the decision wouldn't be made for several months. When that time came, I made the decision to try one last time, and I am so thankful that I did. It gave me more time with the game I love. My experience at UW-Green Bay was unlike any other. I have spent as much time rehabbing as I have practicing. And yet, I loved it all because of the people who I was surrounded with. I feel as if I have given an extraordinary amount to basketball and it has taken an unfair amount away from me. But it also gave me an education and my best friends. Although it is incredible difficult to think about now, in ten years those two things are going to be far more important than the amount of games I played in. With this being said, after enduring a fourth ACL injury on December 15^th, my playing career is over. It came much sooner than I would have ever hoped, but I know I will never truly walk away from the sport. I hope coaching is in my future. And I know the lessons I have been taught will always be with me:

1. Always trust your preparation. If you have prepared yourself to the best of your ability, there is no reason to question the outcome of what has occurred. You will have done all that you could have done in your control.
2. Keep everything in perspective. Some days it feels like things couldn't be worse. Imagine all those around you and realize what you do have is truly a blessing.
3. A rollercoaster always goes up and comes down. Basketball (and life) presents you with incredibly high days- enjoy these. The low days hurt but surround yourself with people who put you back on the upward track.

                With all that being said, I want to thank the coaching staff at UW-Green Bay for giving me an opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream. I want to thank all my previous coaches who helped me attain them. I want to thank all my teammates, starting in second grade, for pushing me to be the best player I could be. I want to thank my current teammates for also pushing me to be a better person. I want to thank my therapists and surgeons for helping me achieve what most thought wasn't possible. I want to thank the community around me for offering countless prayers and words of support. Lastly, I want to thank my family and closest friends for always helping to pick up the pieces and create the best possible version of myself as I move forward.