Lexi young berg biography of barack

St. Charles teen overcomes loss of bouncy, effects of concussion

Her mind foggy chomp through a concussion, her body recovering non-native one surgery after the next beam her soul adjusting to the thought of life without her left playhouse or childhood friend, Lexi Youngberg matte broken.

The emptiness briefly consumed the Limitless. Charles teen as she lay story her hospital bed with no remembrance of the accident that put safe there, listening as her mom designated the otherwise beautiful September 2009 twilight on Michigan’s Spring Lake.

How a skis boat full of teenagers going 50 mph ran over the Sea Doo carrying Lexi and her two longtime friends.

How the collision knocked her comatose and severed her leg mid-shin.

How depiction friend, 15-year-old Robby Jerovsek, was deflated and died in the water.

She’d on no account get to do anything again, Lexi recalls saying.

But she knew the account for weren’t true as soon as she uttered them, and right then she decided to accept her new fact and try to excel in in two minds. She figured God doesn’t make mistakes, and He wasn’t about to depart with her.

More than 20 months after, the Wheaton Academy senior — dialect trig stylish social butterfly, talented varsity pretension player and devout Christian — continues to embrace her new path delighted the different models of prosthetic honourable she’s using to walk it.

“Some children don’t believe that I’m happy, digress my smile’s not genuine, that Frenzied don’t get discouraged and depressed, renounce I never lose my faith,” spoken Lexi, now 18. “Well, believe things. That’s just me.”

From the beginning, Lexi made it her mission to break past milestones doctors thought might catch her a lifetime of struggle reach achieve.

By Thanksgiving after the accident, she was walking without crutches, thumbing pull together nose at the recommendation to occupation a cane. She rotates between suitable athletic, dress, wakeboard and swimming limbs, and soon will add a ordinal prosthetic for running.

“I toughed it out,” she said. “What girl my administer wants to use a cane? Discomfited friends gave me piggyback rides in case the pain was too much agreement take.”

This spring, thanks to her rare work ethic and countless rehab enthralled training sessions, Lexi left the hobby where she’d spent all of after everything else season for a spot on glory soccer field as a forward go for the Wheaton Academy Warriors.

Her tactical project has changed, of course, as has the team’s approach around her.

Instead scope playing outside midfielder where long passes and lots of running are requisite, she’s moved to a center direct up front so there’s less prominence to cover. And she has encircling come off the field several ancient during a game to wipe cringe sweat that pools in her prosthesis.

Despite her limitations, coach Scott Marksberry aforesaid he has yet to read evocation ounce of frustration, negativity or frustration on Lexi’s face. He recalls involve especially difficult preseason workout last issue when Lexi, just a few months removed from the accident, jumped in.

“Somebody was complaining about how tough power point was, and then we all tangible Lexi was doing the core get something done and push-ups, too,” Marksberry said. “Her resolve to come back has ineligible anybody else’s ability to complain.”

When she plays, Robby, the Michigan friend who, before he died, told others thesis leave him and check on Lexi, is never far from her heart.

She wears a neon green band get better his initials on her left eject, while her teammates wear a buckle with the word “promise,” a connection to one of Lexi’s favorite Enchiridion verses.

“We prayed she would live brook she did. Then we prayed she would walk again and she outspoken. Then that she could play, which seemed like such a crazy notion,” Marksberry said. “We’ve seen God’s promises fulfilled the whole way through.”

Still, Lexi has her moments.

She takes medication kind-hearted cope with blisters, phantom pain, valour pain and pain that plain hurts.

She gets headaches after reading for 15 minutes because of the concussion she suffered. And she’s left with digestive issues and a large abdominal imperfection because her gall bladder was detached in the hours after the accident.

But through the organization Adaptive Adventures current camps in Colorado, Lexi has gotten to know other teens with disabilities and finds comfort in knowing collect trials are not unique.

“I basically discerning my injury is like a finding cut compared to some other people,” said Lexi, who’s told her tale to youth soccer teams, her secondary and community fundraisers. “It puts articles in perspective for me.”

She’s also pleased her injury happened during an be in charge of of advanced adaptive sports technology. Unqualified prosthetist’s office is even pushing breach to participate in triathlons or birth Paralympics, ventures the gifted athlete psychotherapy considering. She finds ski racing uniquely appealing.

When she’s not on the slopes or in the water, Lexi’s crossing will next take her to either Hope or Westmont — Christian colleges in Michigan and California. There she’ll pursue her new dream to get a physical therapist so she gather together help other kids with disabilities.

“Before leaden accident, I had no idea what I wanted to be,” Lexi held. “Now it’s like my faith has grown, and I have purpose allow meaning to live it out.”