When Macey Pond of South Haven High School suffered a serious injury to her ACL and meniscus while playing basketball, everyone knew the road to recovery was a long one. Her mother, Sarah Pond, helped the four-sport athlete stay focused on the task at hand while supporting her every step of the way.

“My mom would help me lift my leg up when I was too weak to do it myself after surgery. She drove me to my first physical therapy appointment and would always reassure me when I was feeling down. I’m not quite sure how but my mom has been positive throughout my recovery. It hurts her just as much as me, that I’m not able to play sports yet,” said Macey.

Sarah said the injury has brought them closer and she’s proud of the way her junior in high school has handled it.

“At the beginning, this injury was devastating and most definitely life changing, but it has brought us closer together. She has needed support and encouragement especially through the pain of recovery. More than anything she needed to hear that she was going to thrive and come out on top,” said Sarah. “Her recovery has been rough. She has had several setbacks and difficulty getting her muscle tone back. Through all of this she has stayed positive and continued to push. She has her eye set on the basketball court! Our kids know that someone will be at every event because we make it a priority. When they are grown and are telling stories to their kids, I want them to be able to say “My mom didn’t miss a game.”