Let's see...I guess I'll start at the beginning...
I have been a dancer pretty much all of my life. I can still remember dancing around the classroom at age 3 with the song "Hopping Bunnies" playing in the background. Dance has always been a passion and a way to express myself. I have been fortunate enough to dance all over the country including at the 1996 Coca-Cola Olympic Village in Atlanta, Ga, Las Vegas, Disney World, Epcot, Disneyland, etc.
In September of 2008 I auditioned at Disneyland for a role in "High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Right Here Right Now!" and was lucky enough to be cast as a dancer. This was a dream for me. Being a "Disney dancer." I had 2 weeks to pack up my stuff in Kansas City and move out to California. That was scary, but worth it. We started rehearsals and the show was set to open in the end of October.
During a rehearsal in October, I tweeked my left knee during a jump. When I landed the jump, I felt some sort of "pop" and was unable to put weight on it. I was sent to the athletic trainers and then to the Disney doctors. After a few weeks of watching rehearsals and doing some physical therapy, I was cleared to return to the show.
I remember my first day in the show. I was so nervous, but excited. I remember shaking as the gates opened and I rode out on our HSM 3 float chanting "W-I-L-D Wildcats!" One of my friends from Miss Mo was actually in the audience that day and saw my first show.
I continued to perform until March of 2009 when I had to make the decision, would I move back to Kansas City as my job there gave me a 6 month leave of absense or should I continue to live my dream? Since I was offered a spot in the "Pixar Play Parade" as well as my "High School Musical 3" shift, I ultimately decided to stay in California for a while as dancing for Disney was not something I could do forever.
Fast forward to April 30, 2009...I had been performing in both the "HSM 3" and "Pixar Play" parades regularly and had been settled back in California. I was excited to perform the 5 parades of HSM 3 on this Thursday and my high school science teacher from Kansas City was there with his family that day as well. The day was going very well. The first shows seemed to be going well, everyone was in a good mood, had a good lunch, etc. It was time for the final performance of the day. We paraded out of the gate and everything seemed to be going well. We completed our parading to the show stop and concluded the song "Now or Never." When we start the second song, "I Want It All" all of the female dancers are on the ground and we run up on the stage. After a few lines of the song we all exit the stage. My character in the show is lifted from the stage (which is maybe about 3 feet high) by her partner. So, I tapped my partner on the shoulder like always and placed my hand on his shoulders. He puts his hands on my waist, I jump up and he lifts me down.
Here is how it looks (Please note - these pictures are not from when the injury occurred - they are from other performances)-
When I land, my legs are bent. I want to say again that these pictures are not from when the injury occurred.
Well, when I landed the lift during this show, I felt a big "pop" in my left knee followed by a lot of pain. I was unable to put weight on it. I told my partner for the day that I couldn't keep dancing and I limped off to the back of the stage. I leaned against the stage for a few minutes and decided that I couldn't go back out and finish the show. I was hoping that the pain would subside, but it did not and I didn't feel I could put my full weight on my leg. Plus, I couldn't help the tears streaming down my face. (I also wanted to say that it is not known why my knee "popped" - it was nothing to do with my partner, with the lift, etc)
My manager and the choreographer walked me backstage and I was taken in a golf cart to the athletic trainer. Connie examined my knee and while doing so she felt it "pop" a few times. We iced my knee and I was sent over to the "Cast Health" center to get it checked out.
I filled out paperwork and was sent home. I returned the next day to see the doctor. He examined my knee and said nothing felt loose or torn. He restricted me to "seated work only" for a week and sent me to see the physical therapists. I asked him if maybe an MRI should be taken as this is the second time I have had this happen and the injury felt worse than the first time. He said it wasn't needed.
I did physical therapy 3 times that week. There wasn't much I could do except for stretches. They did some deep massage on my hamstring and calf and then did some ultrasound heat therapy on my knee. Overall, I just felt that something didn't feel right. I asked them if maybe an MRI should be done. They said it wouldn't hurt. I also talked to my claim adjuster from the injury and she thought it was a good idea.
So, I was set up with an MRI and they referred me out to a knee specialist. I did my MRI and, even though I'm not a radiologist, I could see that there was a tear in my meniscus. I received the results of my MRI the next week and it said that I had a meniscus tear as well as an injury to my ACL. I had to wait 2.5 weeks to finally see a specialist to see what he said. I was referred to a doctor I have confidence in. He is the team doctor for the Anaheim Ducks hockey team and a consulting doctor for most of the professional sports teams in Los Angeles.
I finally had my doctors appointment on May 27th. Sadly, my medial meniscus was not the only thing torn. He confirmed my biggest fear - I tore my ACL and needed to have ACL reconstruction. This means that I would have at least 6 months after surgery to return to dancing. The doctor said I had a few choices -
1. Not get surgery and change my lifestyle to being less active, - Um, Yeah, not going to work for me
2. Take a portion of my pateller tendon or hamstring to repair my ACL
3. Have a donor tendon put in my leg
After discussing it with my doctor, he said the donor tendon was the best option for me as it was strong and had a faster healing time. I'm not really sure how I feel about having a tendon from someone else in my leg, but I trust the doctor and think it will be better to have only 2 spots in my knee healing (my ACL and meniscus) instead of 3 (ACL, Meniscus, and wherever they would take my new ACL from).
In the next couple weeks, Disney approved the surgery and so that brings us to now. My surgery is scheduled for this Thursday, June 25th. My parents are flying out to help me recover from surgery.
Am I scared? Yes.
Do I wish I wasn't having surgery? Yes, but I have faith in the doctor to make me better and know that, at age 27, giving up an active lifestyle is not a good choice for me.
I'll keep you updated as things progress. As for now, I'm just trying to rest my knee as much as I can and trying to keep my mind off of surgery.
My last day of "transitional work" (meaning the random things I have been doing at Disney since my injury - like folding napkins, making kids meal boxes, being a store greeter) will be tomorrow. I am off on Wednesday, but have my "pre-op" doctors appointment and my parents fly in that night.
Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and support through all of this. It has meant more than you know!
Okay, off to run some errands and rest before work tonight! Have a great day!
Lisa - I am so sorry about your injury! I hope your surgery goes well and that your recovery is quick! I know you will want to get back to dancing!
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