Olivia Richardson
Doing anything by herself was hard. Going up the stairs was almost impossible. Going down was a little easier. She sat on the top step. She set her crutches by her side and started the slow descent. Sliding down step by step. After only a few steps she stopped. Olivia Richardson couldn’t take it anymore. The initial knee injury was hard, but the fact that she had had to get surgery and now couldn’t walk on it was even harder. So was the fact that no matter what no one understood what it was like. To not be able to do the things she loved. To not be able to even just practice with her volleyball team no matter how hard that practice was. Volleyball was a part of her.
Liv had broken multiple parts of her knee. Tripping over a hurdle at a track meet had started this painful process, and was continued as her knee cap popped out of place at every volleyball practice. She had been through surgery, and grueling physical therapy that pushed her to her limits each and every time. She worked hard. She pushed through the pain, and at times it was constant. She was doing it for her team. She was doing it for her body. But most of all she was doing it for herself! She was the one who was going to come out on top. Then she could prove to them what she could do.
Liv stood on the volleyball court. Varsity player. An asset to the team. She had come so far. Looking around she was filled with gratitude for the simple things she had taken for granted before. “Volleyball has given me opportunities to meet new people and travel” Liv said. She cherishes all the memories she makes with her team and she knows they will be there for her and in return she wants to be there for them when they go through hard times.
Now she understands what it’s like to feel alone. What it was like for no one to understand how you feel. Also what it’s like to come out on top. To get through the hard times. Olivia Richardson had won!
