Well it is good news/bad news in our house these days. Em did her first RO BHS's on the tumble track tonight, 8 months after rupturing her ACL and generally trashing her knee. It's been a really long and painful journey to get from there to here, but Em has proven herself to be far tougher than anyone thought. Our first meet is the first weekend in December and it looks like she will be ready to compete, even if her routines are watered down a bit. We have been so lucky to have Dr. Frederick, a phenomenal orthopedic surgeon who really "gets" gymnastics and works pretty extensively with gymnasts. Sometimes I think what has kept Em going is that Dr. Frederick told her back in March that barring any major setbacks she would be able to compete this season. We have also had great physical therapists who have been working with Em 2-3 times a week since her surgery, and Coach Tami who has told Em from the beginning that quitting was not an option. 
Now for the bad news Em's older sister Caileigh, who is at a Div III school on the gymnastics team - her lifelong dream - broke her ankle last week playing soccer! She is still not sure exactly what happened but somehow she hit the ground during a game and when she tried to get up could not put any weight on her right ankle. She was convinced it was "just a sprain" when I dragged her into the ER where I work the next day, only to find that she had not just broken her fibula, but broken it above the joint line creating an "unstable" fracture. We sent to Philly this past Thursday and saw Dr Frederick who took one look at the x-ray and asked Caileigh "so have you every had surgery before?" Caileigh is now scheduled for surgery this Friday to put a plate and screws into her fibula to stablize the fracture. She should be in a splint for a week and a rigid cast for 2-3 more weeks. After that, provided all goes well, she should be able to move to a walking boot and start intensive rehab for 4-5 weeks. Right now, Dr. Frederick thinks she should be able to return to practice unrestricted, except for a sturdy ankle brace, 8 weeks post-op. This will give her 4-5 weeks of full practice before the NCAA season starts Jan 8. One of the HUGE benefits of her being a college athlete is that Wilson's trainer can do most of Caileigh's PT at no cost to us. Once again, I'm so grateful we have such a great doc who understands what gymnasts do. Yes, she does have to have surgery, but if that is what it takes to get her going so be it. Dr. Frederick did such a great job with Em's knee that I have full faith Caileigh will be fine.
Now, who has LOTS of bubble wrap I can wrap both of these girls in!
Now for the bad news
Em's older sister Caileigh, who is at a Div III school on the gymnastics team - her lifelong dream - broke her ankle last week playing soccer! She is still not sure exactly what happened but somehow she hit the ground during a game and when she tried to get up could not put any weight on her right ankle. She was convinced it was "just a sprain" when I dragged her into the ER where I work the next day, only to find that she had not just broken her fibula, but broken it above the joint line creating an "unstable" fracture. We sent to Philly this past Thursday and saw Dr Frederick who took one look at the x-ray and asked Caileigh "so have you every had surgery before?" Caileigh is now scheduled for surgery this Friday to put a plate and screws into her fibula to stablize the fracture. She should be in a splint for a week and a rigid cast for 2-3 more weeks. After that, provided all goes well, she should be able to move to a walking boot and start intensive rehab for 4-5 weeks. Right now, Dr. Frederick thinks she should be able to return to practice unrestricted, except for a sturdy ankle brace, 8 weeks post-op. This will give her 4-5 weeks of full practice before the NCAA season starts Jan 8. One of the HUGE benefits of her being a college athlete is that Wilson's trainer can do most of Caileigh's PT at no cost to us. Once again, I'm so grateful we have such a great doc who understands what gymnasts do. Yes, she does have to have surgery, but if that is what it takes to get her going so be it. Dr. Frederick did such a great job with Em's knee that I have full faith Caileigh will be fine. Now, who has LOTS of bubble wrap I can wrap both of these girls in!
