Conditions + Treatments
Knee Injury/Condition
Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) Reconstruction
I’m currently a sophomore at Briarwood Christian School, and lacrosse has become a huge part of who I am. I play with the Briarwood Lacrosse Club, a team that competes in local games and tournaments every spring.
I first picked up a stick six years ago after friends convinced me to try it at a community event called Tri-lax. From the first time I got on the field, I knew I had found my sport. I was drawn to the face-off midfielder position because it put me right in the center of the action at the start of every game and quarter.
But my journey hasn’t been easy. For years, I unknowingly struggled with shallow knee sockets that caused my knees to constantly dislocate. It was painful, frustrating, and left me wondering if I’d ever be able to keep playing the sport I loved. After multiple dislocations over four years, I knew something had to change.
My family scheduled me an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas at Andrews Sports Medicine. After ordering MRI's on both knees, Dr. Dugas told me I had bilateral knee recurrent lateral patellar subluxation with an MPFL tear—basically, my kneecaps kept sliding out of place because a ligament that holds them steady was torn.
Dr. Dugas said I needed two surgeries, one on my left knee in June 2024 and another on my right knee in November. I was really nervous before the first surgery, , but the nurses and staff kept me calm with their lighthearted jokes and encouragement.
Recovery was tough—physical therapy started the very next day after surgery, and it was some of the most painful work I’ve ever had to do. But with the support of my therapist, Carrie Heidrick, my parents, my coach David Arnold, and my grandfather, I pushed through 11 months of grueling rehab. By May 1, 2025, I was finally cleared to return to sports.
The difference was incredible. My knees were stronger, my mobility improved, and my confidence was back. In the playoffs, I even went two for three on face-offs—a moment that reminded me how far I’d come.
Now, I’m preparing for a full varsity season, continuing with my travel team FCA, and dreaming of one day playing at the next level, with Duke or Virginia as my ultimate goals.
This journey has been about more than just surgery and rehab—it’s been about persistence, faith, and refusing to give up on the game I love. Every time I step on the field now, it feels like a comeback victory.
