MICHAEL HODGE

It was the second game of the season and we were playing Sulphur Springs (here) on August 25th.

I got hit in the back of the leg during the first quarter and I immediately knew something was wrong; however, I never imagined surgery was in my future. Coach Fenton worked with me on the sidelines and tried to help stretch out my leg because I wanted to keep playing. I went back in the game and realized my leg wouldn’t do what I needed it to do. I sat out the rest of the game and the next step was seeing a doctor. He ordered an MRI the next week and when I heard the results, it seemed overwhelming: I tore my ACL and bruised my PCL and surgery was the answer. The doctors operated one morning and I went home the next day. My tendons had to heal somewhat before physical therapy could begin but it wasn’t long before I was spending my afternoons at St. Michael’s rehab center. Every Monday and Wednesday from 4 to 6pm, I left school and worked hard to get my body back into shape. At school, I chose to use a wheelchair to get from class to class and campus to campus instead of using my crutches. I had to rely on my friends to help carry my backpack and my independence seemed to leave for a while. But, after about three weeks, I began walking again and my ‘normal’ life is slowly returning. This type of injury and recovery process takes approximately nine months to complete. I’ve had a lot of time to think about my life, goals and my future. I hope to play ball at the college level next year and for the most part, everything is looking positive. If there is anything this experience has taught me is to “Keep your eye on the prize.”