Nicci Kelly talks about her road to recovery from her ACL injury

ANDREA KELLY: I knew immediately when I landed on my leg wrong that this was more than just a knee sprain or tweak. The thing that I thought would never happen to me, happened at a time when I was just trying to regain hope into my playing future. I was working out in the spring offseason, just returning from two stress fractures in my feet, when I found out that I tore my ACL in my right knee. You can imagine the thoughts flooding my head at this time. I remember laying out helpless on the floor hearing thoughts in my head like, “that’s it,” “you’re done,” “give it up,” “quit,” or “it’s not worth it.” I experienced injuries in my career before, but now I was at a point where all I had to look was up. So I did what all I knew I could do, trust in God.

           

I tore my ACL on April 6, 2010. I was scheduled for surgery exactly two weeks later for reconstruction and repair. When I first told my coaches and teammates about my injury, I didn’t know what to expect. However, I was reassured when all I received was love, support, encouragement, and strength to help me through this time. I knew then there would be no other place I would rather be than around my Lady Tiger Family. This would be my first time going into surgery and I wasn’t afraid or fearful at all. I was actually excited and anxious to get it over with because the quicker I could have surgery the sooner I could start my recovery and rehab. Not only that, I had my friends and family around me praying for me the whole time. I had surgery on April 20, 2010 and my initial MRI revealed a torn meniscus and ACL. I went into surgery and the doctor found that my meniscus was fine and healed already and said that the ACL repair was a success.

 

I have to take this time to express my gratitude and thankfulness to the greatest trainer in the world, Micki Collins! From the day she found out I tore my ACL to this present day, Micki has been there with me through this whole process and has pushed me and encouraged me to do the best I can and more. It’s not just a job for her. Micki genuinely cares for all the players as people and wants the best for us like any mother would want for her children. Even after five months, I still feel the same care and push from Micki I did when I first tore my ACL, and for that I am thankful.

 

I started rehabbing my knee the day after surgery. I determined in my mind and heart that I would push everyday to get better and be ahead of schedule. The one thing that kept me going was my faith in God. Reading His Word everyday gave me strength when I should have been weak and it continues to give me peace. His Word says in 1 Peter 2:24b that “By his wounds you are healed.” I spoke that to myself everyday, even now. I didn’t want to think at any time that I was injured; instead I just told myself that I’m only getting stronger.

 

The first two weeks were pretty tough. My goal was to just get some rotations on the bike and make it turn on. I practically lived in the training room. After spring semester was over I stayed for intercession, summer, and the second intercession so I could continue to rehab. For the first month I would ride the bike, work on my extension and flexion motion with a variety of exercises and did exercises in the pool. I pictured in my head where I wanted to be by a certain time frame and set out to do it. By the first month I was walking and by the third month I was running and lifting weights with the team.

 

Now, I am about five months post-op and very close to being done with rehab. It’s still a journey but it’s a journey that will be finished. I am excited for where God has brought me from and the many lessons I had to learn about humility and brokenness. I am also thankful for all of my teammates, coaches, trainers, friends, and family who have helped me along the way. I definitely could not have made it without them. I am excited for this upcoming season and look forward to a great Lady Tiger year!

Posted by Bob Starkey