Push Forward

It's hard to believe it's already been over a month since my son’s surgery. I am reminded that recovery is rarely a linear process. It’s filled with unexpected challenges, small victories, and moments of doubt. Every day, my son faces new challenges—sometimes it's the lingering ache in his knee, other times it's the mental hurdle of staying motivated when progress feels painfully slow. He attends physical therapy sessions several times a week, where his therapist guides him through increasingly difficult routines: stretching tight muscles, balancing on one leg, and practicing careful steps across the gym floor. At home, he's just as diligent. He sets a timer to remind himself to do his exercises, follows his therapist’s instructions precisely, and even researches new stretches online to add variety. To accommodate my son’s recovery, we added new decor to our family room, a stationary bike, and some heavier weights.   It doesn’t match the room's aesthetics, but I don’t mind if it helps improve my son’s mobility.  Thankfully, my brother-in-law allowed my son to borrow the extra equipment, enabling him to be consistent with his workouts.  My son has been keeping track of his progress as he pushes himself to return to the court.

One of the mistakes we made early on in my son’s recovery was to accept whichever PT our insurance plan listed.  A week after surgery, he started with the therapist covered by our insurance, and while it was decent, his progress was slow and steady, but not quite enough. He then tried another therapist, who was fine but still didn’t fulfill his recovery needs.  About two weeks later, a casual acquaintance he hardly spoke to unless they were on the other side of the net came up to him and referred him to a PT for athletes.  He went for a consultation and was pleased with the visit, and asked my husband and me if he could go there instead.  The new PT was out of network with our insurance, but we were highly considering the option.  Until the Holy Spirit reminded me of another athletic training facility that also offered physical therapy, which was included in our insurance plan.   I asked my son to consult with the new facility, and if he didn’t like it, we would go with his preferred option.

My husband and son attended the consultation, and thankfully, they both approved of the therapist and the facility.  The energy in the new place was contagious: the PT was a collegiate athlete himself and continues to play basketball, and was very aware of the injuries and recovery needs of athletes. The space had turf underfoot, and the equipment was designed for movement, strength, and challenge. It felt like he was the only one using the facility and had the PT’s full attention.  At their first consultation, my son arrived with a brace and two crutches, feeling uncertain, but after an hour and a half, he left with just one crutch, no brace, and a smile on his face. The PT encouraged him to ditch the brace, slip on a sleeve, and start walking around the house without the crutch. He also suggested using a stationary bike and continuing the exercises at home, explaining how each exercise would help accelerate his recovery. The difference in progress was like night and day—my son was motivated and engaged. The other PTs were effective, just at a slower pace. I realized the first PT was more my speed, gentle and gradual, while my son's new PT inspires him to embrace the difficult challenges and work through discomfort.

Reflecting on the past few weeks, I am relearning a few lessons. Our environment and the people around us can have the greatest influence. The first PT clinic was quiet, almost somber, and focused on careful, incremental progress. If my son had stayed there, I believe his improvement would have continued at the same slow and steady pace. However, the encouragement, energy, and positivity at the new PT clinic gave him milestones that mark him ahead of his recovery timeline. The therapist’s unwavering belief in my son's abilities pushed him past what he thought were his limits. With each session, he becomes more optimistic about his future.

Also, don’t settle for the status quo. If something or someone isn’t helping you thrive—whether it’s a doctor, your medication, a facility—keep searching until you find what truly supports you. Finding the right physical therapist and training center made all the difference for my son. The transformation is visible, as I recently commented to my son that he moves like someone who has never had surgery.  I look forward to witnessing more of his progress in the coming days.