Chapter 70:

It has been 4 weeks and Bette’s rehabilitation is going well.  She has been doing physical therapy and has a Doctor’s appointment so he can tell her if she can start running again.  The playoffs will began soon the team has done well enough to draw the first seed in their conference. The first round should not very difficult for the team to win without Bette in case the doctor does not clear her by then.

Doctor’s office:

“Bette your x-rays look pretty good.  Your bones are fusing together nicely.  Have you been doing your physical therapy 3 times per week?”

“Yes Dr. Peters.  I’m doing my toe raises and I no longer feel any pain while doing my heel to toe walking.”

“Great.  Well, I say you can start doing some light jogging now.  No more than 10 minutes at a time for now.  If you feel any sharp pains on the ankle stop and do some of your stretches.  You may want to continue soaking your foot especially after a physical therapy session. I’ll see you again in 2 weeks and then we’ll see if you can be cleared by then to play.”
 
“Ok doctor.  Thank you.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“Well, I was wondering what the chances of re-injury are?”

“Well that’s hard to say.  It has more to do with the athlete in question.  Some athletes over think it when they go back out there and re-injure because they are being too careful.  Bette your ankle is healing very well and I will not clear you to play before you are physically able to.  However, you have to be mentally ready to play as you always have.  Don’t be so afraid of hurting yourself that it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.”

“I understand Doctor Peters.”

2 weeks later:

The Cardinals are going to be going up against Tulsa in the first round of the playoffs.  The team is in the locker room before the game.  The coach told Bette that she will not play in this game just to be on the safe side.  The doctor cleared her physically a few days prior but coach does not want to take a chance or re-injury on an inferior opponent. Bette will be too important to them as they move through to their goal of making the final four again.