Smiling before surgery, junior Tim Nelson holds a teddy bear. Nelson was excited to undergo surgery so that he could begin the long recovery process. “After the pain goes away, I know [the recovery process] will be easy,” Nelson said. “I just need to have patience, and that’s kind of something I don’t have all the time.”

A season-ending injury to a speedy recovery

Victoria Neeser, Convergence Journalism Writer

During the second play of the varsity football game against Oakville, junior Tim Nelson began running to the left to get off the block. As he carried the ball to make a cut to the right, his foot got stuck in the turf.

“When I tripped and fell, some people rolled over my knee,” Nelson said.

He knew it was a serious accident.

“I was on the ground, and then screaming,” Nelson said. “I was about to get up and my body just shut down.”

Once the trainers were able to examine his knee, Nelson told his coaches that he only needed a short break and he would be ready to return after a few plays, but the trainers did not want him to injure his leg further.

Abbie Zensen
Junior Tim Nelson sitting on the sidelines during the varsity football game while watching and supporting his
teammates.

“I went to the doctor about a week later, after some of my swelling went down, so I didn’t find out what happened to me until the weekend after Homecoming,” Nelson said.

Nelson learned he tore both his meniscus and his ACL, ending his fall and winter sports seasons.

“The thought [of not playing] just kind of hit me because sports are my thing, and now I can’t [play], so it’s killing me on the inside,” Nelson said.

Nelson underwent surgery Sept. 27 and is currently in the process of physical therapy.

“The day of surgery I was actually smiling the whole morning. I was thinking ‘wow, I’m really about to have surgery. I can’t wait until I can make this comeback’,” Nelson said.

Despite the setback to his sports career, varsity football coach Jeff Duncan believes this will be a learning experience for Nelson.

“I was obviously very disappointed for him because he’s worked so hard to get to where he’s been. He’s arguably one of our top linemen on both sides of the ball, so it was a devastating loss to our team,” Duncan said. “You’re going to face adversity all your life, so this isn’t the worst thing that’s going to happen. There’s going to be highs and lows and this is a learning experience for him and how to handle those things and continue to try to remain positive.”

Not only did this injury impact his football season, but it also affected his time spent at home, along with his family.

“While Tim is becoming more and more used to his crutches, he still needs help now and then. Sometimes that help takes a whole lot of time to do,” twin sister and junior Trinity Nelson said. “It requires a lot of patience and his occasional frustration comes with his limited movement. To care for someone with such a drastic injury requires a lot of patience and understanding, and that’s what I get more of each and every time I assisted him.”

Throughout this injury Tim has learned that injuries come with a lot of patience and time all because of one injury.

“Before every game [I have] the thought of, ‘is this the game that’s going to get me hurt?’” Tim said. “Football is just a game that’s going to hurt me, but then it fades away as soon as the next ball is in play.”