On Saturday, May 9, 2020, I was out running some errands to prepare for Mothers’ Day the next day. As I was leaving the Garden Center in Cullman, I stepped off the curb onto a stick and rolled my left ankle. I immediately felt more pain than I had ever experienced.
I had an appointment with Dr. Jody Ortega in late June, 2019 for an issue with my right ankle. At the appointment, Dr. Ortega quickly consulted with Andrews Sports Medicine's foot & ankle specialist, Dr. Norman Waldrop, about my condition.
In July of 2018, our family was on vacation in Destin, Florida. We were on the beach enjoying ourselves when I tried to jump a "giant wave" and I awkwardly landed on my left ankle. As soon as my left ankle hit the sand I felt a pop on the outer edge of my ankle.
I immediately knew my injury wasn't minor, so we went to a local ER in Destin. The ER doc placed me in an ankle brace, provided me crutches and recommended I see a local orthopaedic doctor as soon as we returned home. I spent the remainder of vacation on crutches.
My name is Lee Wood, and on behalf of my family, I would love to start off by thanking each doctor and their team that has helped my family get back to our best. I am a mother of three kids who were always involved in some kind of sport growing up. Their primary sports were soccer and ultimate frisbee during high school and college. I also coach the high school competitive, ultimate frisbee team and the women’s club team.
After walking around for several years with severe right ankle pain due to arthritis and a failed operation by another orthopedic group, I finally went to the Andrews Sports Medicine and saw Dr. Waldrop. He agreed to fix my ankle and I have been pain free ever since the operation.
I started playing volleyball at the age of 12 and have been playing the sport ever since.
Unfortunately, nothing has come easy for me on the volleyball court the last few years, but that has not stopped me from making the most of my chances.
The first sign of trouble came when I sprained my left ankle in January,2015 during the club season of my sophomore year at Spain Park High School.
I'm a climber, I'm a trail runner, I'm a hiker, I'm a mountain biker, I'm a kayaker, I fly fish, etc., I'm a LOVER OF ADVENTURE AND THE OUTDOORS! On March 12, 2015, I fell 25 feet while rock climbing in Chattanooga, TN. I was quickly transported via ambulance to the ER at Erlanger Hospital and as I entered as a Level 2 Trauma, I had severe pain in my left leg/foot/heel, right foot/heel, numbness in back (two of my vertebrae), severe pain in my right and left arms (specifically my elbows), chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
On the morning of December 24, 2014 my husband and I stepped out of the taxi and shouldered our packs at the foot of the canyon we would hike up on the first day of a six-day hiking trip in the Canary Islands. Ten minutes later, I stepped in a hole and broke my ankle in two places. After spending a day of getting immediate care I was given an open cast in order to fly back to the U.S. to get surgery. As you can imagine, dealing with holiday airline schedules and medical clearance to travel was not fun; I wasn’t able to get back to the United States until December 28th.
On October 5, 2014, I ran onto the field at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium with adrenaline pumping through my body. Ole Miss had a real good offense, but that is why we had been practicing. They had so many quick backs and ran read sweep and read zone, but we were prepared. We came to play football - call a play, execute it and play hard.
Having chronic ankle and foot pain, I chose Dr. Waldrop to operate on my left ankle in 2013. With tremendous success, I am able to return to normal activity. In December of 2015, I again chose Dr. Waldrop to operate on my right ankle.
This "World-Class Surgeon" is not only an outstanding surgeon, but wonderful person. Also, special thanks to his medical staff for all of their kindness and encouragement. They are the BEST!
Dr. Ken Wright, AT Ret.
NATA Hall of Fame, 2014