Shriners Children’s Spokane patient, Draeyelle is familiar with reaching for her dreams. It isn’t every day a gift is received which feeds the dream. Draeyelle was given an opportunity from Spinzo and Spinzo Cares to attend her first in-person WNBA game to watch the Seattle Storm win their game in exciting fashion!
Draeyelle is a high school basketball athlete. “As Draeyelle has grown up, many people have told her she can go to the WNBA if she wants. With all her setbacks in sports, she still has a goal to attend college for basketball and see where that takes her. It was nice for her to see in person the people she follows in college who are now in the WNBA, and show her it can be an achievable goal — if she wants it,” shared her mom Danielle.
Draeyelle has been a Shriners Children’s Spokane Sports Health and Medicine patient for almost three years. And in that time, she has had surgery for a torn ACL and Meniscus, extensive rehabilitation, where it was discovered she had small fractures on both sides of her hips, finally released to return to sports only to suffer from significant shin splints, an ankle fracture, a broken finger and most recently put in a cast for Lisfranc joint sprain. This young lady has really been through a lot! She is a dedicated athlete, each time working hard to return. Her care team, led by pediatric sports orthopedic surgeon Jacob Carl, M.D. and sports medicine pediatrician Ryan Baker, M.D., along with sports physical therapist Kelly Bartleson, have cared for her, encouraged her and provided the right steps to get her back on the court.
“Even though she has continued to injure other areas, her care team of doctors and therapists collaborate on her treatment plan and have continued to support her. They are also good at creating good boundaries for her because she will try to go back as soon as she can without being fully healed,” Danielle said.
Having a team who specialize in sports and works closely together prompted further testing to rule out other factors which could have been playing a role in Draeyelle’s injuries. “Since her initial injury she’s had multiple setbacks, each time sitting out to heal. It is very frustrating for her. Shriners Children’s Spokane has been there for her every step of the way.”
Draeyelle’s favorite player on the Seattle Storm is fresh from college. She got to watch her as well as one of her basketball mentor’s sister Gabby Williams, who ultimately was named player of the game!
“Thank you for the experience, we are so appreciative. Injuries sure take a toll on athlete’s mental health. The opportunity to attend the game has inspired her and fueled her motivation to continue working hard to pursue her dreams,” shared Danielle. “Thank you Spinzo and Shriners Children’s!”
