My oldest daughter, Lindsey, had a very interesting end to her senior year of high school. This spring she played her third season of varsity lacrosse. The team was meshing beautifully and working well together, but many injuries, illnesses and concussions plagued the team throughout the season. Excitedly, the girls entered the playoffs. In the first 17 seconds of the first game, Lindsey got possession of the ball. She turned and fell. Pop! The athletic trainer's years of experience led him to believe (correctly) that her ACL and meniscus were torn.
You can only imagine the rush of emotions that followed. While her leg didn't really hurt (but her knee was very swollen), Lindsey's heart was broken. In her mind, she had let her team down.
The girls took their grief over Lindsey's injury and turned it into a force. They played their hearts out. We spent the evening in the trainer's office, and then we heard the news. The team had won the game!!!
Lindsey commented later that week that she was awestruck by all the positive texts, tweets and hugs she received from her teammates and friends. #DoItForLRay was their hashtag. Lindsey and I talked about how she found out, through a terrible event, how much her friends cared about her. We decided that people need to hear caring thoughts, especially when things are going right.
The next few weeks went by in a blur: senior picnic, senior breakfast, prom, a trip to the beach, and graduation. All with a wrapped knee, and a smile on her face, once she decided to make the most of the situation.
Three days ago she had surgery to fix her knee. The texts, snapachats, and visitors are helping keep her spirits high. It's not the summer before college that Lindsey imagined, but I think she will look back and treasure the time spent with her friends.
It's so heartwarming to hear how her friends gathered around to support her (both in real life and digitally). I'm glad she was able to view the whole event with a lense of optimism - seeing the good through the bad.
ReplyDeleteIsn't ironic that sometimes the only way you learn how much you are valued is after an experience like Lindsey had. Hope she is as good as new very soon.
ReplyDeleteFriends - to help thru the tough time and enjoy the good times. Glad that Lindsey's surgery went well and that she is on the mend.
ReplyDeleteI too have a daughter that graduated this year. It is heartwarming to see how they react during the difficult moments in their lives and the lives of their friends. Hope all this support brings her a speed recovery and a sense of comfort.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great attitude! And I hope that your daughter heals quickly, too.
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