I know that the excitement of the New Year and all the 2020 jokes has long passed us, especially since it’s been a rough year so far…and it’s only April. Even though the world is in a crazy place right now, I wanted to take this time to talk about what happened to me 10 years ago. April of 2010 was a very special, very crazy month for me that I will never forget. I was in 7th grade, 12 years old. I was in the best shape of my life, well, for a middle schooler at least! I ran cross country and played volleyball in the fall, I played basketball, and that spring I decided to try softball for the first time. All my friends were doing it, and it was the perfect opportunity to just go for it and play. The only downside to this is that I went to a small school, which meant that if there weren’t enough girls for a team, guess what? You’re playing varsity. You can’t learn to play against people your own age if you’re new to the sport. That would be no big deal if I was playing varsity basketball, since I grew up playing it in elementary school, but looking back in hindsight, making that big of a jump for a first year softball player kind of posed a problem. Sure softball isn’t a contact sport, but I had to face girls potentially 5 years older than me at the plate, and I never really learned the basics, like how to slide, and it was all learning as you went on. I was total newbie to the game.
All was well during the season, until that April came around, April 16th to be exact. It was a Friday night, my two brothers had a baseball game 2 hours away from me, and it was my eldest brother’s senior year, so my parents ended up traveling to that game, while I had an away softball game in Huntsville. I had a cousin in Nashville getting married that weekend that we were going to, so one of my uncle’s that was in town ended up surprising me and showing up to the game, which brings such a smile to my face thinking about him doing that. Total side track, but had to include because it meant the world to me!
So we’re playing, and I’m up to bat. I end up hitting the ball in left field knowing it’s a double at least, going for 2nd, going for 3rd, and I have to slide into 3rd, I’m trying to slide…then…bam. I felt like I slid into a brick wall. My left ankle was throbbing and I was in so much pain and reaching for it, trying to hold it, thinking that that would lessen the pain. The third baseman was this heavy set girl, and she blocked my path to the base and I couldn’t slide, not that I really knew how to anyways. Everything else is kind of a blur from then on. I remember getting carried off the field, my best friend’s mom taking my shoe and sock off and my ankle swelling up like a balloon. I’m pretty sure we waited until the game was over, but I remember she drove me to the emergency room, with my uncle following behind. I ended up spending the majority of that night in the emergency room, my best friends coming and sitting with me, waiting for my parents to come. The doctor had to stick a huge needle in my ankle, and it’s weird how after all this time I can remember the feeling of that needle going in. Gross if you don’t like needles, but hey, it’s true! I ended up breaking my ankle that night, in 3 places I’m pretty sure, and it would require surgery the next week. I don’t remember when my parents showed up, but I do remember it was really late when my parents drove me back home.
Remember that wedding we were supposed to go to that weekend? Thankfully my cousin’s wedding wasn’t that Saturday, but Sunday. I do not remember that Saturday at all, other than that night when one of our family friends came over and braided my hair for the wedding and gave me a pedicure. I could go into all the details about how crazy that Sunday was, from what I can remember at least, but I probably shouldn’t haha. Just know I was on crutches and on pain meds, and really couldn’t do anything but sit and watch. It was a nice family reunion for my Mom’s side, and it was cool seeing all my cousins that came to town that I hadn’t seen in years because they lived all over the country. Not a total ideal scenario considering I had a broken ankle less than 48 hours prior, but it was still good nonetheless.
From what I can remember, it was a good wedding weekend, and I ended up missing school that entire next week, and had surgery that Thursday, the 22nd. I didn’t mention it before, but I had to have 3 screws put in my ankle that day. I remember my youth pastor coming early that morning before the surgery. I remember changing into a hospital gown. I remember the doctor coming in and asking if he could pray over me right before. I remember being put under. I also remember waking up there with this nurse yelling my name which was pretty funny actually, is that how they wake you up? I don’t know, but I can still hear that nurse saying “Madelynn! Madelynn!” The surgery went well and it was all good, I mean, as good as it could be given the circumstances.
I ended up being in a cast for 2 months I want to say, and I remember when I got it I went in with the intention of getting a black cast (because silver sharpie looked coolest on it, obviously) and the guy was kind of shocked that a 12 year old girl would choose that color. What can I say, I’m not a girly girl! I remember I felt like I was wearing that cast for eternity, not just a month or two. I had to walk around the school in crutches, which wasn’t the most fun, but I felt a lot of love poured onto me from friends and teachers, which is something I will always cherish. I remember taking showers was the absolute worst, and asking my mom if this was ever going to end, if I would be in this cast forever. Guess what kid? You got through it, and would end up playing varsity basketball and volleyball the next year and go on to do great things.
When I think of that time, I also think about the rest of the school year and how I ended up going to my eldest brother’s last baseball game, which I’m happy I got to see. I was in a wheelchair, but hey, I was there! It was during that time in that cast that I really fell in love with the game of baseball. Weird how I broke a bone and fell out of love with its sister sport, but hey, you can’t choose when you’re going to fall in love!
It all worked out well in the end. I still have those 3 screws to this day, and the scars to prove it. I’m proud of those scars, and it will always serve as a reminder of that time. That you can get through anything. It’s weird how when writing this post, all of those memories come flushing back, and I feeling like I was that 12 year old kid again. 10 years man. It’s crazy! I hope that 10 years from now I can look back and say the same thing that I’m saying now. You got through this. You made it. That struggle and that suffering you felt has passed, and you’ve moved onto bigger and better things.
Thanks for taking the time to read this reminiscent post! I hope you have a great rest of your day, and remember that the tough times will pass, and that you can come out of the other side a stronger person <3