I've found it so helpful and comforting to have friends talk me through the recovery process. I've also had many strangers come up to me and share their stories, and they all tell me that it gets better very quickly but that it takes a lot of hard work. It's almost like a group of ACL veterans formed around me the second word got out that I had gotten surgery, comprised of some people that I didn't even know existed!
I didn't get it at first. Why were people so eager to give me that brief, encouraging talk at the gym? How did my friends (who are ACL vets) know just when to check in on me? I know I didn't get it when they had surgery and I really regret not being more available to them. Once the drugs all wore off I quickly saw that I was in for a long recovery and it all quickly became my reality. As I'm writing this now (at 4 weeks out of surgery), I've already experienced great frustration with my situation and there have been times where I've just felt hopeless and vulnerable. From many conversations with ACL vets, I know this is not uncommon. When I have these moments of complete desperation, sometimes I just can't pull myself out of it. But all it takes is an understanding hug or a supportive text to get me back on track. So that's it. I finally understand why all these random people on campus have stopped me and told me, "it gets better." The road to recovery can be so overwhelming that even your own strength to fight back loses its way every now and then, but having people by your side will always bring you back.
I've been very fortunate to have a great support group by my side: my parents, my boyfriend Clay and his parents, my roommate Anne, my friend Samantha, and countless teammates from the rugby team who have checked in on my progress. Thank you for everything that I can't even begin to put in words.