In 2021, Jayden, an eighth-grade football player from Chicago, suffered a severe injury during a showcase event in Tennessee. He was hit by two linemen and later diagnosed with a fractured femur at the hospital. Initial medical advice suggested he would need three screws in his leg and might not be able to play football again.
Jayden’s mother, Jacky, sought another opinion in Chicago and turned to Shriners Children’s Chicago. Doctors there were more optimistic about Jayden’s recovery and ability to return to sports. He underwent physical therapy, screw-removal surgery, and additional rehabilitation at the facility. By his sophomore year of high school, Jayden was back on the field. Although he later experienced a rotator cuff injury, further physical therapy at Shriners Children’s Chicago helped him recover without the need for additional surgery.
Currently, Jayden is playing football for Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin on a scholarship. His family credits his recovery to the care received at Shriners Children’s Chicago.
Reflecting on her experience as a parent navigating her son’s injury and recovery process, Jacky shared several insights:
“Jayden fell and didn’t get up right away. My stomach was in knots. I was just praying my son was okay. I knew something wasn’t right when they called me onto the field. I was shaking but still trying to stay positive.”
“The EMTs came, cut his football pants and his leg went the other way. At that moment, I went numb. I was so worried, scared and nervous, not knowing what would happen next. Would my son be okay? Would he be able to play football again? Was this the last game he would ever play?”
“The doctor said there was a possibility he might not play the same again or might not be able to return at all. Once Jayden heard that, he started to cry, tears rolling down his face. That broke me as a parent. I didn’t know how to process the information. I was in disbelief, not knowing what was next or if he would overcome this.”
“Even though I was lost in my head, I knew I couldn’t let my son see me worry. All I could do was hold it in and tell him, ‘You are strong. We got this. You will overcome this. This is not a setback but a comeback.’ Honestly, I didn’t know if that was true. I was so scared and so worried.”
“I didn’t know what I could do for him, but I knew I had to do something and find the best doctor back home in Chicago. My son’s dream since he was 8 has been to go to the NFL, and I needed to make sure he got back on the field. I didn’t know where to start. I was clueless. I started Googling, and Shriners Children’s Chicago popped up. I had heard about them but didn’t know much. As I read about them, I thought, ‘Wow, they are a great place, but will they see my son?’”
“Finally, I told Jayden’s dad, ‘It keeps popping up. I’m just going to call them. The worst they can say is no.’ Well, it was the opposite of what I thought. That call was the best decision I made. From the moment I spoke to the staff, they didn’t make me feel like my son was less important. They were comforting, concerned and patient with me even as I stumbled over my words.”
“Jayden had his first appointment sometime after the 4th of July. As soon as we walked in, they were welcoming and showed no judgment, from the security guard who checked us in to the person who registered us. Dr. Ackman was the doctor who saw Jayden, and from that first appointment he made us feel confident Jayden could overcome this.
Dr.
Ackman told him,
‘It’s all up to you,
Jayden.
If you do everything you need to do,
you can get back on the field,
maybe even stronger.’”
“When we met Dr.
Davidson and found out Jayden had injured his rotator cuff in the back of his right shoulder,
I gave him positive vibes,
reminding him,
‘It’s not a setback but a comeback.’”
“Dr.
Davidson stopped him from playing shot put and baseball and put him in PT to see if it would help.
If not,
surgery was next.
Thankfully,
PT worked,
and no surgery was needed.
At that point,
no more surgeries were lined up for Jayden.
I couldn’t believe how well PT worked.
I was shocked and so grateful.”
“A support system is so important.
For us,
Shriners Children’s Chicago was huge.
They guided us through everything and reassured us it would be okay.
Having family and friends to talk to is also vital because it’s easy to fall into depression.
Even when things feel uncertain,
you have to say positive things out loud,
like,
‘Everything will be okay.’”
“I am so grateful for Shriners Children’s.
I tell everyone I know to go there.
One of Jayden’s little cousins tore something while playing football,
and
I told his dad
to go
to Shriners Children’s for
a second opinion,
and
he did.
I don’t know what would have happened if my son couldn’t get back on
the field.
Football is Jayden’s stress release.
Football is everything
to him,
and,
thanks
to Shriners Children’s,
he’s back doing what he loves.”
