Jerrika's knee

Wow I haven't written in awhile. Been quite busy lately. Here's the latest..
Jerrika started having a baker's cyst on the back of her knee back in October, while we were in Disneyland with Sheila and her family.
When we got home, it bothered her a bit, but nothing major until about January or so. We went in and saw an orthopedist who drained it 2 times. Finally, the Thursday after cheerleading nationals, we went in and she had it removed at Thunderbird surgi-center. This was the day before Good Friday.
She was on crutches for about 2 or 3 weeks then back full strength after that. Finally back in the gym after a month. Tumbling came right back - she went out on the floor and started throwing fulls with Rachel. It was great to see her with no pain and ready to get back to what she loves - she was begging to go back to the gym the entire time she was out!
So less than 3 months later, the cyst is back and her knee is hurting very badly all the time. We gave her tylenol/ibuprofen and homeopathic remedies for a few weeks. I made an appt with a new ortho, Dr Greg White, - a month out. They have nothing sooner, but I call every day to get on a cancellation list and nothing.
Finally on Thursday July 24th I called and said, "I don't care who you get us in to, I am tired of my daughter being in pain. The person said she had appt the next day, in Mesa at 9AM.
So we got up at 6AM on Friday and left a bit after 7 to drive to Mesa. Got down there about 820, got Starbucks and then went to the dr.
The drs office took a bunch of x-rays and the dr saw some strange shading on a bone in her left knee, so they scheduled an MRI. Originally they wanted us to leave and schedule it by where we live, then come in a few weeks later and see the dr for a folllow up. I said - come on please. She is in pain and we drove over an hour to get here. I really don't want to drive back an hour for a dr appt, so they got us in that day.
Short story - we got there at 8AM and left finally and got home after 3pm. We found out about 130 in the afternoon that Jerrika has osteochondritis-dissecans in her left knee. It means she has a soft spot in the bone of her left knee and it is not getting blood supply right now and if we aren’t careful that part of the bone can break off and cause major damage.
So the care is - no tumbling, running, stunting, jumping etc (no jarring to knee joint) for 6 months. The dr will do another set of x-rays in 6 weeks, then another mri in 6 weeks after that. If the bone is healing and getting blood supply, then all is great and she can get back to tumbling in 6 months. If no healing after 3 months, then she has to have another knee surgery to re-establish blood flow to her knee.
When they told us they can't cheer, it is like taking air away from someone. It is what Jerrika does. It is who she is. She doesn't walk, she tumbles. She practices flying all the time. She dances and does the routines from different team routines all the time. She just loves to dance, tumble and fly/stunt.
So on the way home from the dr office, we cried and cried.
I think the hardest call I made was to her coach. Deborah was very upset since Jerrika is probably the best flyer on Jr 4 this year - last year she was voted best flyer for Jr5. Also, Jerrika is very pretty tumbling and is a real leader on the team.
When I finally reached Deborah, she cried too. It is hard for her to lose a girl that she has worked with for 3 years. She is really hoping that Jerrika can come back in February. She even said that if Jerrika wants to come to the competitions and watch her friends, she can be in her uniform. She also said she would make room for her on the team if she comes back in February.
So the doctor says the only exercise that Jerrika can do for the next 6 months is swimming and cycling. It is 115 outside, I don't think we will be riding bikes any time soon.
Not sure how a swim team will go, but we'll try it. Last time she swam at a public pool, there was too much chlorine and she freaked out. Hopefully it is less.
Next post will be about our feelings and the emotions of giving up something that is like the air we breathe - it is what she does, it is what she enjoys and what she is good at..