Olivia Ortiz was at the peak of her high school career. The Lakewood Ranch junior had captured a cross country state title and was capping off the year with a great run outdoors with a championship in the 4x800 meter relay, and a runner up finish in the 1600 meters, before the injury bug struck. Ortiz fell to the track with 50 meters left in the 3200 meters. The diagnosis a broken femur. In an flrunners exclusive she shares with us what happened in that moment, the surgery following, and how she is holding up now.
First and foremost, from the bottom of my heart I would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers for me throughout this past week. My family and I truly appreciate everyone’s support during this rough bump in my journey. I am so incredibly grateful for such a supportive Florida running family, especially flrunners for letting me share my story. I would also like to say congratulations to everyone for such an awesome track season. It was a pleasure competing with so many talented runners all season and to have the opportunity to make each other better each and every race. Best of luck if you are adding on to your track season and competing in any post season meets.
As many of you have heard or even seen, during the Class 3A Track & Field State Championships on Friday, May 4th I took a rough fall on the track. After completing the 4x800m relay and 1600m before, it is then during the 3200m race I fell 50m from the finish line. Quickly, I was transferred to Wolfson’s Pediatric Hospital where they took an x-ray of my upper left leg. My panic brought many anxious questions and of course the only one I truly cared about, “Would I be able to run again?” Moments later I was told I had broken my femur and I would have surgery the next morning. Of course, at first in shock and devastated I was reassured I would be okay. After placing me in traction and finally taking my other spike off I was assigned a room on the top floor where my parents and sister were by my side.
The next morning I went in for surgery and before I knew it back in my hospital room. The surgery consisted of placing a titanium rod in my leg with screws holding each end. The rod would be in my leg forever even when I start to run again. My broken bone will need to heal around the rod. Thank goodness for all the medicine they have these days, I really did not experience too much pain. After speaking to my parents, the doctors told me I had been running with a stress fracture about two weeks prior and that was the pain I had since my Regional meet.
The day of my Regional meet is when my pain started, I was glad I could run through those races that qualified me for States and after taking a couple days off, visiting the doctor, and having multiple tests completed (except an MRI/Xray), I was technically cleared to run at States on the upcoming Friday. Up until the State meet it was all mind over matter for me, and little did I know I was running through a stress fracture not just tight muscles which was assumed. Ultimately, I ran until I broke my leg.
I was in the hospital until Wednesday, May 9th and was faced mentally again that I broke my leg and soon learned how to use crutches and the wheelchair with my parents and nurses help. Wolfson’s Pediatric Hospital could not have been any nicer. From the nurses, doctors, and facility my family and I felt like we were in a good place with excellent care 24/7. During my stay at the pediatric hospital I learned how truly blessed I am to simply wake up every morning, go to school, and the ability to run. When previously, I took those simple actions for granted and was too caught up in the busy society lifestyle. Even though it is never fun being in a hospital I learned so much from my five day stay that is plainly grounding and puts life in perspective on what’s really important.
On Wednesday, May 9th I finally was on my way home. Thankfully the four hour car ride back to Lakewood Ranch went smoothly and I was welcomed home by balloons, cards, and a large sign signed created by my student government class, teammates, and coaches. It is nice to be home and getting comfortable again with my surroundings.
As I follow up with my doctors and determine my therapy only time will tell how soon I can do the one thing in my life I absolutely could not live without, run. Sadly, this is an unexpected set back I have been faced with but, I truly believe everything in life happens for a reason and even though it might be unclear at the moment why, it will reveal itself its purpose in the future. I feel extremely blessed to have achieved the level of success throughout my junior year and now I am only more eager to create more once I am healed. I will learn tremendously from this set back and hope to inspire others throughout my journey. Thank you again so much for all of your support. Words cannot describe my gratitude and appreciation.
Have a blessed day!
Olivia Ortiz
Related
- Olivia's Athlete Profile
- Article: Ortiz Resting After Surgery For Broken Femur (via Bradenton Herald)
