For 14-year-old Cole, sports have always been a huge part of life. Whether it’s football, wrestling, basketball, or lacrosse, he thrives on the competition and camaraderie of being part of a team. But with one play, Cole’s season was brought to an abrupt halt.
“I was playing football, went to make a tackle, and my knee buckled,” Cole recalls. His coaches and the team mom suspected right away that it was his ACL. An MRI confirmed their fears—Cole had torn his ACL and meniscus, injuries that would require surgery and months of physical therapy.
Cole’s family knew exactly where to turn. As a baby, he had spent time in the NICU at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, so when it came time to find expert care for his knee, Nemours Children’s was the clear choice.
Under the care of Dr. Su and his team, Cole underwent surgery that rebuilt his ACL and repaired his meniscus, and started the long road to recovery. “Everyone was always really nice,” he says. “Dr. Su and his nurses always tried to make the outlook positive. The doctor who did my MRI was really nice too.”
For an athlete like Cole, being sidelined was one of the toughest challenges. “I wasn’t able to play any of the sports I love. I couldn’t walk without crutches or my brace. It made everything miserable,” he says. Recovery meant nine months without sports and physical therapy three times a week—an exhausting process, but one he was determined to tackle head-on.
Now, after months of dedication and hard work, Cole is back on the field—and more motivated than ever. “Since I’ve been cleared, I’ve been training and playing sports consistently,” he says. “I want to play football as long as I can.”
For other young athletes facing a similar injury, Cole offers this advice, “Trust the process. Don’t isolate yourself. Still get up and be part of the team. Just because you can’t play doesn’t mean you aren’t an important part of the team. Don’t stop trying. You will get there.” With his resilience, determination, and a strong team behind him, Cole is proof that setbacks don’t have to define the journey—they can make the comeback even stronger.
