Being “Blessed” with an Injury

At OPTI, we often joke with our patients about “celebrating” the anniversary of their injury or surgery—maybe by treating themselves to their favorite ice cream at the one-month, one-year, or even five-year mark! While these comments are usually made with a bit of sarcasm, there’s real truth behind the idea: overcoming injury is something worth celebrating.

I recently “celebrated” a significant milestone of my own!  It was the anniversary of tearing my first ACL. (I tore my right ACL in 1996 and, unfortunately, my left in 2006.) It might sound strange to use the word “celebrate” in the same sentence as “injury,” but in hindsight, December 4, 1996, turned out to be one of the best days of my life (though my mom might strongly disagree)!

That afternoon, during basketball practice my senior year of high school, just two days before our first game, I felt a pop in my knee. I was devastated. The thought of missing 6–9 months of sports was crushing. Yet, looking back, that injury set into motion a series of life-changing events.

At the time, I was still trying to decide where to attend college and play soccer. I wondered: Would anyone even want me on their team after this? The night I got home from the ER, the Creighton University soccer coach called. Talk about timing. I told him I had just gotten hurt, and although I didn’t yet have a diagnosis, I knew something was seriously wrong. Emotionally drained, I made a rash decision that night: I verbally committed to play soccer at Creighton.

The next day, my orthopedic surgeon confirmed my worst fears: ACL, meniscus, and MCL tear.

Fast forward through my senior year: instead of leading my basketball team as the starting point guard—or defending our state championship title in soccer—I sat on the sidelines. I felt lost. Sports had always defined me. I struggled with feelings of sadness and disconnection from my teammates.

But from that seat on the sidelines, I began to learn. I saw the games from a new perspective, paid closer attention to coaching strategies, observed the dynamics of teammates who rarely played. I learned resilience. I learned patience. And, eventually, I learned to channel my frustration into motivation during rehab, working toward getting back to the athlete I once was.

Long story short: I made it through. And I’m a better person because of it.

When I got to Creighton, I was still set on becoming a pediatrician or orthopedic surgeon. But months of physical therapy sparked something new: Maybe I should go into PT. I applied to Creighton’s PT program…and got an interview!

March 5, 2000, I showed up for the interview process, nervous but hopeful. What I didn’t know was that I would also meet my future husband that day. Brent Cordery, then a first-year PT student, was volunteering at the interviews. Thanks to his friendly, outgoing nature, we struck up a conversation—and even played a quick game of nerf basketball (yes, in my formal interview outfit!). Five years later, on March 5, 2005, we got married. And yes, we still have a nerf hoop hanging in our clinic today.

Because of my ACL tear, I became a physical therapist. A PT who truly understands the physical and emotional journey of injury recovery. I’ve felt the setbacks, the frustration, the self-doubt. And I’ve also felt the joy of getting back to doing what I love—and now, I get to help others do the same.

So, let’s recap:

• I tore my ACL.

• That night, I committed to playing soccer at Creighton.

• I discovered my passion for physical therapy.

• I met my husband.

• And today, I have a career that I love, helping others heal.

All of it traces back to one day: December 4, 1996.
Call me crazy, but what a blessing in disguise.

—Katie Cordery, PT

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