Natalee Rose has always been a competitive human being. She always wanted to win no matter the cost. Little did she know that one day, she would have a six-month recovery ahead of her, away from school and soccer.
Rose was trying to beat a family friend in a pull-up competition in the summer of 2018. He had 12 pull-ups, and Rose knew she would easily beat him. She did.
It was not that long after that she realized she had an aching pain in her stomach, but she thought nothing of it. More and more days went on, and she was in pain but still thought nothing of it. Rose had been struggling with stomach issues due to lactose intolerance and thought it was nothing past that. That is what everyone thought.
Weeks go by, and she notices a welt around her lower stomach. Her mom immediately takes her to a hospital. After spending many hours and days in the hospital, they finally got the results back from the MRI. Rose had a double hernia, which is very uncommon for girls her age to get, let alone women in general.
“When I found out, I was so sad because I could not play for part of the basketball season with my team,” Rose said.
A hernia is when an internal organ or tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or tissue. Hernias can occur in various body parts but are most commonly found in the abdomen and groin. The condition is usually characterized by a visible bulge or lump that can be felt under the skin.
Common causes of hernias include heavy lifting, persistent coughing and straining during bowel movements. While not always dangerous, hernias can cause discomfort and pain and, in some cases, may require surgery to repair.
Rose had her hernia in the groin area, and it deeply affected her. The doctor explained the procedure to her and her family, explaining that removing a hernia often involves surgery. During the process, the surgeon will make an incision in the affected area and push the protruding tissue back into place.
They then repair the weakened muscle or tissue in the area to prevent the hernia from recurring. In some cases, a mesh may be used to provide additional support. After the surgery, the patient must rest and avoid strenuous activity for several weeks to allow the area to heal correctly.
Rose had to undergo a six-month recovery before finally returning to playing sports and doing what she loved. Although she is at risk of them coming back, she is still the competitive little girl she was before.