[Ashley Christine]

Well... Right now my back is fractered. It is called spondylolysis of the 5th Lumbar [if you want to get technical]. It is actually what got me involved in robotics. In January I was having back pain in track - thought it was a pulled muscle [might have been] So, I pole-vaulted at a meet, but one of my attempts a landed on the bar. It hurt pretty bad but I ignored it and went again... qualified sectionals and made the height [6'] in trying for 6'6 I did not make the height and laned on the bar a second time. I was done. I didnt think anything of the pain. I laid down on the floor because I was tired and resting before the 4x400. I tried to sit up.. and the worst pain went through my back. I started crying right away, and for the rest of the time it hurt so bad, I sobbed the rest of the meet and the bus ride home. [I also love running so I was upset that the one thing I had in my life was torn away from me] So I went to the docs etc.. said it was fractured. Gave it some time to heal, went to one physical therapy appointment.. and then had to go to the docs. They did nuclear imaging... and its not healing. So.. now after nationals I have a ton of lovely appointments.. like an MRI and a few visits to the orthopedic.... But I am not too upset because I dont think I would have known about FIRST if this didnt happen. Everything happens for a reason. I just wish it would get better now .