The fact the that I am creating a THIRD ACL post is almost a sick joke.
After making an INCREDIBLE comeback and KILLING it in high school soccer, Tyleigh moved up to Longview, Washington to play college soccer. A dream come true! She worked her guts out during preseason and earned her starting spot on the team. She was playing amazing. It was so rewarding to watch after all she has been through!
Because of the long distance, Rod and I couldn't attend every game, so we watched them from home if they were broadcasted. This particular game was. We checked the starting line-up and Tyleigh's name was of course one of the starting defenders. We turned the TV on and saw her during warmups, and then noticed that she and her friend had their arms around each other. We wondered if her friend got hurt and Tyleigh being Tyleigh was trying to comfort her and help her off the field.
The game started and Ty was not on the field. We were confused. . . until Rod's phone rang. A SOBBING Tyleigh was on the other end and all I heard was "Dad, I just tore my ACL again."
No way. There was NO way this kid was going through this AGAIN.
Those same feelings of gut-wrenching devastation hit all over again.
We got her in to an orthopedic surgeon in Washington who felt like it "might be" torn, but wasn't 100% sure. We had them do an MRI and asked to have it sent to her surgeon, Dr. Carlson.
It was confirmed that she had another ACL tear - this time on the opposite leg.
How. Just how. She has already suffered so much.
With her positive attitude, and only a few tears here and there, Tyleigh went in for surgery on October 22, 2022. At only 18 years old, this was knee surgery number 4. Dr. Carlson used her quad muscle to repair this tear. Another very, very painful procedure.
The doctor has you mark the knee you are having surgery on - she had to add "Go Devs!"
Another doozy of a tear, bone contusions, partially torn meniscus and sprained MCL. Unreal.
This is the first surgery Tyleigh has ever woken up emotional from. It was hard to keep it together on her behalf. All the emotion she had bottled up from the years and injuries before came to the surface while she was waking up. It was a sad, sad day.
Once she was more awake, she went right back to her sweet, optimistic self.
Working on getting that 90 degree angle back with wall slides!
More physical therapy. She was SO sick of it at this point.
Tyleigh, you are my hero. You are unbelievably strong! Love you with all my heart!
