My Comeback Story: Skylar M.

My experience with OAL was nothing short of exceptional. During my sophomore year at Elizabethtown College, I suffered a devastating injury during our very first scrimmage—tearing my ACL, tearing my meniscus, and even fracturing part of my knee. As a member of the women's soccer team, it felt like my world had completely shattered. With that being said, I couldn't have been more fortunate than to have Dr. Gish by my side. From the very beginning, he cared for me not just as a patient, but as an athlete determined to return to the field. He consistently reassured me that with hard work and patience, I'd be back to doing what I loved. And he was right! The road back required tremendous dedication—weekly physical therapy at Spooky Nook and daily PT sessions at the college. By my junior year, I finally stepped back onto the field after missing my entire sophomore season. But emotionally, I still struggled. I didn't fully feel like myself yet, and playing with a huge brace for the first half of the season didn't help. However, everything changed in the second half of the season when I finally got rid of the brace. The confidence and comfort I had been missing suddenly returned, and I felt like myself again. Now, after finishing my senior season, I can proudly say I'm beyond grateful—not only for the comeback, but also for the success that followed. I earned First Team All-Conference honors, scored a career-high eight goals (tied for fourth in the Landmark Conference), and led the conference with six game-winning goals. None of this would have been possible without the incredible support system around me—including the team at OAL. Dr. Gish played a vital role in every step of my recovery, and I truly wouldn't be where I am today without such a successful surgery!