From Injury to Kitten

I have been playing roller derby for a year now. I skate for Pikes Peak Derby Dames in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During one of our routine practices, I suffered an injury.  I honestly didn’t even know it happened. I fell mid cross-over at the bank turn. Thankfully, the women I skate with with are very encouraging. They are very motivating, and quick to help you get back up, and keep pushing through. That’s exactly what I did, I got back up and kept running drills. That evening after practice, I noticed my right ankle was very cramped. I proceeded to soak it in Epsom salt and ice it. Despite using anti-inflammatory methods and elevation techniques, the next morning I noticed that something was not OK. My right ankle was beginning to swell to an abnormal size. I still went to my work meeting, but kept off of it as much as possible. By the end of the day, I just couldn’t take the pain anymore. I went to the emergency room. The results of the tests showed that my injury was just a sprain.

I continued to attend practices. I even skated a charity marathon: our annual Halloween Skate-a-thon. I skated over 187 laps in under 70 minutes. I am very proud to have had raised over $500 for TESSA (TESSA is the primary agency dedicated specifically, and solely, to the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault in El Paso and Teller Counties in Colorado). It provides immediate safety for women and children in crisis. TESSA Empowers survivors through programs and support such as advocacy and counseling. It creates a safer future for families through education and awareness. They provide outreach in schools, businesses and civic organizations. After this event, I still felt like something wasn’t normal with my ankle, but I continued to take care of it at home as instructed by the ER.

The following week I got my ankle x-rayed again at an urgent care facility. They also said that it was a sprain, but gave me a referral to a Podiatrist. While waiting for the appointment I tested with my league. Unfortunately I was not drafted onto a team. However, I was very proud of myself for testing and trying out, even with an injury. My season was over at that point until spring of 2020. I was given an MRI and the results were not what I was expecting. I had torn the tendons in my right ankle and broken the fibula. I had surgery on my ankle January 8^th 2020 and was put into a cast. I was unable to walk or drive until the third week of February 2020. I felt pretty helpless, but I had ambitions and dreams. I aspired to become a Chateau kitten and to get back on my skates.

I’d been working the hardest I’d ever worked in my life. I attended physical therapy multiple times a week. I did my exercises at home. I started a diet to get my health back on track. I took the plunge and scheduled a photoshoot. I had a lot of help and support from Deviantmynx. She educated me about the application process and gave me an education on the essay. My dreams were coming to life when I was accepted as an April kitten. I have been back on skates and working on both of my passions, skating and The Chateau. As far as skating goes, I will probably have to wear an ankle brace for the rest of my derby career. I find so much joy being a derby kitten with the support and empowerment that both PPDD (Pikes Peak Derby Dames) and The Chateau give me. The journey continues.

https://pikespeak.co.networkofcare.org/veterans/services/agency.aspx?pid=TESSA_1042_17_0

http://pikespeakderbydames.com/