15-year-old Mackenzie has always been active, with a passion for playing sports. But after a snowboarding accident in 2023 resulted in a meniscus tear in her left knee, she had to take a step back from her favorite activities. After the accident, a local doctor recommended surgery and Mackenzie’s primary care physician referred her to Dr. Su, a sports medicine surgeon at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware.
“Dr. Su is hands down the best!” shares her mother, Teena. “He explained everything so that both Mackenzie and I could understand.”
With Dr. Su’s guidance, Mackenzie underwent meniscus repair surgery for her left knee. But just as she was beginning to recover, life threw another curveball—a second injury, this time to her right knee. Knowing exactly where to turn, Teena says they didn’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Su again.
Through both surgeries, Mackenzie found the support she needed at Nemours Children’s, not just from her doctor but from the entire care team. “The staff is only a call or message away, always willing to help,” says Teena.
Now, after two successful surgeries and a lot of hard work in recovery, Mackenzie is back to doing what she loves—playing sports. Mackenzie and her family are hopeful that her knees remain strong and are confident in the care they’ve received at Nemours.
Dr. Su highlights that Mackenzie’s recovery has been a true team effort. “Mackenzie always keeps a positive mindset and is dedicated to following her post-op rehabilitation plan,” he explains. “Recovery like this is teamwork—the patient, family, physical therapy, and surgeon all have to work together. I fix the meniscus, the physical therapists guide her back to sports, and the family and patient stay committed to the process. It’s just like being part of a sports team.”
To other families navigating similar challenges, Teena shares, “Listen to the doctor’s orders, and you’ll be back to your old self in no time!”
Mackenzie’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of expert care. With Dr. Su and the Nemours team by her side, she’s regained her strength and her confidence.
