Carolyn: A Soccer Star Shares Her Story from ACL Tear to Recovery

Our pediatric experts can tell families a lot about their child's ACL tear diagnosis and the treatment to come. One thing they can't often tell them: how they will feel. That's why we connected Carolyn, a soccer player who has been through ACL surgery with Erin, an athlete preparing for ACL surgery.

Watch as Carolyn and her family share their ACL surgery story to shed light and offer hope. Follow their ACL journey through the videos below.

Meet Carolyn: our patient who has recovered from an ACL injury

When Carolyn tore her ACL during a tournament, she feared that it could be career-ending. Her parents, Mary and Tim, still remember her initial devastation. Now, they're all looking forward to Carolyn living out her soccer dreams.

Meet Erin: our patient who recently tore her ACL

Erin tore her ACL during soccer practice. She knows she's out for the season, but she and her mom, Carla, want to ensure Erin fully heals before getting back on the field so she can continue playing the sports she loves.

Many athletes fear they may someday tear their ACL. The good news is that if they do, it doesn't have to be career-ending. With the right treatment, care team and mindset, athletes like Carolyn and Erin can heal and safely return to their sport.

Carolyn and her parents share how they navigated challenges and decisions during her ACL tear diagnosis and treatment. Watch the videos below to hear each family share about their ACL tears and how they researched the best treatment options:

After ACL surgery, most athletes have one goal in mind: getting back to their sport. Though the recovery journey varies from athlete to athlete, our team focused on helping Carolyn get back to her sport as safely as possible to avoid additional injuries.

Sports injuries affect more than muscles and bones, so it's important to heal both mind and body. Watch these three videos to learn what helped Carloyn along her recovery journey: