My Comeback Story: Myla Z.

As an athlete, I was taught to push through pain, unaware of the importance of recovery until it was too late.
October of my freshman year, I underwent orthopedic surgery for a navicular stress fracture. Before this injury, I didn’t consider how hard work, such as training every day, could result in something negative. Discipline had always meant doing more, so why were my efforts working against me?
The months before my injury were filled with activity. I spent my summer in volleyball open gyms, lacrosse tournaments, and workouts squeezed into the spare moments I had. As a 14-year-old, I was driven to compete at a higher level and determined to make varsity as a freshman.
In August, I began to feel discomfort in my left foot. The pain was inconsistent, and once I warmed up, it seemed to disappear. I told myself it was just soreness. After making varsity, I continued to push through practices and games, prioritizing performance over listening to my body.
By late September, the pain was unavoidable. Under the care of Dr. Luke Rust, a CT scan revealed a fracture in my navicular bone, a critical part in the foot’s arch with limited blood supply, making it especially vulnerable to overuse injuries. The solution was surgery, a major and heartbreaking answer to what seemed like something minor. It was even harder to accept that the injury hadn’t come from a single moment, but from weeks of overlooking warning signs.
The next seven months were spent off the field, but not away from the game. I supported my teammates from the sidelines and stayed engaged in other aspects of the sport when the physical side wasn’t available.
Physical therapy at Rebound with Helen McDevitt became a major turning point. I began to see progress in small gains: getting 1% better each session. I looked forward to every appointment, it was an opportunity to prove to myself I was still the same athlete I was before my injury. However, what impacted me most was not just my own progress, but the progress of others. I watched patients relearning how to walk, stand, and run, finding myself celebrating their milestones like they were my own. Through this experience, I developed a deep appreciation for the role of physical therapists: not just in rehabilitation, but in restoring confidence and hope.
Now, as a sophomore back on the field, working towards my goal of playing D1 lacrosse, I carry these experiences with me every day. My comeback journey has inspired my interest in sports medicine, where I hope to help others navigate both the physical and mental challenges of recovery, just as I was supported through mine.