Posted on September 13, 2024
Taking the Mound Again: Korrie's Return to Softball
If you had asked her six months ago, 16-year-old Korrie might have told you she’d never play softball again.
In March 2023, Korrie was recovering from long-haul COVID when her symptoms suddenly got worse. She was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
That summer, she injured ACL during softball practice. It added another layer of stress as her condition continued to worsen. She was feeling extreme fatigue, breathlessness and instability. For an active teenager who had been playing softball since she was 7 years old, it was devastating.
Korrie was struggling to manage everyday activities on her own and eventually transitioned to home schooling. “We were in crisis mode,” her mother Wendy recalls. “Doctors and specialists couldn’t explain what was happening.”
After a trip to the ER and extensive tests, the diagnosis was another curveball for the family. In addition to POTS, Korrie was also battling functional neurological disorder (FND)
Wendy embarked on a search for effective treatment. That’s when Korrie’s aunt, Julie, learned about the Mary Free Bed Kids Chronic Pain Program from her coworker.
“As a mom, I was desperate to find help,” explained Wendy. “We were preparing to travel out of state for care. That’s when we learned some of the best pain specialists in the nation are right here in Grand Rapids.”
In November 2023, Korrie’s arrival at Mary Free Bed gave her family a glimmer of hope. An interdisciplinary team of doctors and therapists was quickly assembled. They shared the simple goal of helping Korrie regain control of her body. She began intensive therapy sessions including physical, occupational and psychological therapies.
Despite it all, Korrie’s spirit remained unbroken. “I learned that perseverance is earned, and the only way out is to go through,” she said.
The road to recovery wasn’t easy. Physical therapy milestones came in small victories – like standing for longer periods of time, walking on a treadmill for 10 minutes, and lifting weights.
“In my occupational therapy sessions, we worked on re-learning how to vacuum,” Korrie laughed. “Because I couldn’t do chores. I couldn’t fold laundry. I couldn’t even do my own hair.”
Through the combination of therapies, the mind-body connection helped fuel Korrie’s progress. For her, it all led to a monumental goal: getting back on the softball field.
Her perseverance paid off. By early 2024, Korrie had made extraordinary progress. And today, she’s back to feeling like a teenager again – attending school, driving, working out and spending time with friends. (She even has a new appreciation for vacuuming.)
This spring, Korrie reached her #1 goal when she finally stepped back onto the mound as a pitcher for the Byron Center High School varsity team. She’s also a member of a travel softball team in the Finesse Fastpitch Club. Colleges across the country are scouting her, and her future – both on and off the diamond – looks bright.
For Wendy, the journey was also transformative. “Learning to parent a child with a chronic illness meant letting go and trusting that Korrie had the skills to manage her symptoms autonomously,” she says. The shift allowed Wendy to foster Korrie’s independence and confidence.
“When Korrie walked out in her softball uniform and took the mound the first time, it was a huge milestone for me,” Wendy shared. “I wasn’t worried about her, and Mary Free Bed was just so instrumental in all of that.”
Through hard work and determination in the healing process, Korrie has found stronger faith and countless silver linings. Among them, she explained how she’s gained new perspectives and more confidence.
“Now, when I line up to pitch, I have a whole new mindset,” she says. “I know how strong I am. I know have a team in my corner, and I trust the process.”
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About the Mary Free Bed Kids Chronic Pain Program
Chronic pain in kids is a significant public health problem worldwide. Studies show about 30 percent of children and adolescents experience pain that lasts for three months or longer.
Unlike acute pain, which typically comes from an injury, illness or medical procedure, chronic pain is more complex. Sometimes it’s associated with a long-term illness or continues after an injury has healed. Sometimes the cause just isn’t clear.
Mary Free Bed Kids offers one of the only programs of its kind in Michigan to help pediatric patients and families coping with chronic pain. The innovative program blends medical and behavioral rehabilitation to significantly improve and manage symptoms – so kids and teens like Korrie can enjoy just being kids.
Click here to learn more about the Mary Free Bed Kids Chronic Pain Program.
