Personal Narrative: Red Cheerleading

Walking in, I was welcomed, almost taken in by the sweet warm air. The room was filled with the red cheer mats. It was a cold, foggy day, mid October. I slipped off my fuzzy light brown boots, and put on my bright white, spotless cheer shoes. I looked around at all the other girls, and took a deep breath. I stood up, stepping onto the vibrant red cheer mats, ready to work hard. With the way my day was going so far, I knew it was going to be an interesting tumbling practice. I most always looked forward to tumbling practice. The thrill of getting to throw myself in the air and catch myself just in time not to hit the ground. Throughout the whole tumbling class, I was doing really well. I had gotten so close to the skill I’d been working
I thought to myself, with the upcoming cheer tryouts for competition season and fall ball coming up, this was the last thing I needed. I remember my Uncle Josh stopping by the house and asking what was wrong with me. “Oh my gosh! What happened to your fingers?” he exclaimed. “I fell at tumbling and bent my fingers backwards.” I said sniffling. “Carrie, she needs to get those checked out, they look really bad.” he whispered, loud enough that I could hear. “I know, we are going to go as soon as she’s ready.” she whispered back. My fingers were not getting any better and started to become even more bruised and swollen. Of course, it had to be the hand I write with, my left hand. My fingers bruised very quickly and my mom started to become concerned. She took me to Alton Memorial Hospital and I had to get X-Rays. The X-Rays made my finger hurt even more. I had to straighten out my hand and fingers in order for them to get a clear picture which caused excruciating pain. I remember it feeling like an eternity for them to tell me the results. To pass time, my mom got me a drink and food from the vending machines. I ate my M&M's and hoped the doctor would come soon. At this point, I was exhausted and ready to go home. The doctor finally came in with the results and sure enough I fractured my ring finger and my middle finger. The fracture was so horrible that I chipped a piece of my bone off, it is still
I went to school the next day sporting my new splint and got so much attention from it. . I went through extensive physical therapy which was terrible. To be completely honest, I wanted to punch my physical therapist in the face for making me bend and stretch my fingers in ways that really hurt me. I dreaded going but knew it would help my fingers to feel better. As soon as I was taken back into the Children's Hospital physical therapy room, I already wanted it to be over. Although, the doctors that I had, were all so nice. I healed slower than my doctors thought I would. The bone just wasn’t repairing itself and we thought I might need a full arm cast and possibly surgery. This would keep me out for much longer than I’d