After spending months on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, a local, lifelong basketball player and Augusta Christian highschooler could not wait to get back on the court to play the game she has always loved.
Following a 10 month recovery from her first ACL injury in Dec. 10, 2021, Kaylee Jackson soared across the court time and time again impressing everyone in the stands.
Feeling once again untouchable and in the zone, almost exactly a year later, Kaylee suffered a second ACL tear on the same knee during a Westside v. Augusta Christian game on Dec. 6, 2022.
“It was almost day-to-day one year apart,” said Kaylee’s father Mark Jackson. “She was just starting to play basketball again.”
Playing with the courage and strength of a true Augusta Christian lioness, Kaylee continued to play on her injured knee and scored some points before being taken out of the game and forced into another 11 month hiatus.
Healing from specialized reconstructive surgery that involved doctors pulling muscle from her hamstring and IT (iliotibial) band and attaching it to Kaylee’s knee, she not only navigated battling her physical restrictions, but also a mental and spiritual journey as she once again walked the road to recovery.
Coming from a legacy of basketball players with parents who are avid fans of the game, Kaylee first began playing in her church’s team in second grade. After getting a taste for the game, Kaylee said she was hooked on basketball’s contact and teamwork.
Practicing everyday for at least two hours a day since middle school, over the years, basketball became the Jackson family’s entire life, and Kaylee quickly became known as one of Augusta’s star players as she often played with older teams after being handpicked by local coaches.
For Kaylee, days began and ended with excitement for improving her shots and developing teamwork skills.
“There were a lot of times where she would practice at school and then go home to work with her trainer,” said Mark. “So a lot of days it was more than just one practice … her freshman year she was just on fire.”
Whether it was working on her free-throwing skills on the court or bonding with teammates by making gingerbread houses, Kaylee’s social world revolved around her passion for basketball.
Something that was all snatched away with one wrong move.
Suddenly, pregame locker room moments and team bonding exercises were replaced with endless amounts of physical therapy, rest and hours sitting stuck on the bench or at home on the couch for dozens of games.
“Our lives were kind of focused around basketball year round before my injuries,” said Kaylee. “I was upset because I looked forward to the practices and the games, and traveling with my teammates … after my surgery, I felt really helpless, which was a big switch from playing all day, everyday to sitting around and having people wait on me hand and foot because I couldn’t get up.”
For Kaylee’s parents, the physical journey “knocked the air” of them as they tried to encourage their daughter everyday to not give up hope, despite the sadness they witnessed threatening to snuff out Kaylee’s inner light and faith.
“I think it’s just as tough emotionally as it is physically. To see everybody else play and she’s just sitting there and can’t do anything, because it’s a long recovery for an ACL … she just wants to get in there and play so badly,” said Vanessa Jackson, Kaylee’s mother.
At times, Mark said he and Vanessa sometimes felt powerless as they watched Kaylee struggle and waited for the painstakingly slow healing process to be over.
“It just left her basically alone, because her teams were her core group. These were her people, and now she’s lost contact with them,” he said. “They traveled together like a second family. Even between games, when they are on the road, they are going out to eat together. It’s a lot of team building and a lot of love. All of that was gone for two years.”
Kaylee was even excluded from regular high school experiences during retreats as she could not take part in rope courses, paintball and other physical activities.
However, despite her injured knee and war with depression, Kaylee showcased true dedication and selflessness by taking on an assistant coaching role to continue supporting and cheering for her teammates on the sidelines.
“I took up that opportunity and actually enjoyed it. It kept me going and it made me realize that I might love to be a coach one day,” she said.
She even counseled a handful of local athletes from other schools who were also injured and depressed to pass the time as she longed to be back on the court.
“It’s harder when your knee is almost cleared and you feel like you’re ready to play, but you just have to keep watching everybody else. That’s definitely the hardest part,” said Kaylee. “When someone goes through something like this, they need all the support they can get.”
Where many would have thrown in the towel after the second injury, Kaylee decided to dig her heels in and prepare for the upward battle to keep her dream of playing in college alive.
“I did consider giving it up, but then I realized that basketball makes me happy, and I wanted to try and continue doing it,” she said. “I tell other injured athletes, that ‘God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.’”
On Nov. 17, Kaylee was thrilled to finally be cleared for play once again, and immediately texted her father the good news.
“It felt amazing,” said Kaylee. “I felt like I was on top of the world … I was telling everybody, I was so excited.”
Attributing her successful recovery to Vanessa, the family manager or “momager,” for pushing her to continue physical therapy and God, Kaylee said she owed everything to her faith and family.
During Kaylee’s recovery, Vanessa said she also injured her own ACL as well, which allowed them to bond over physical therapy and pain management.
“I used to get frustrated with her over physical therapy, but now I’m really glad she pushed me,” said Kaylee.
Still fresh off the recovery, with scars covering Kaylee’s knee from two significant surgeries, Vanessa decided to alleviate some of her daughter’s fears of reinjury by writing inspiring scripture over her knee before every game.
“It’s just been such a long journey for us and our faith has been so important,” said Vanessa as she held back tears. “I just asked God for guidance … and the whole experience just gave me a lot of respect for her. I think she’s such a strong person.”
Not allowing her injuries to rob her of her faith, Kaylee said her injuries only strengthened her religious resolve in God.
“It definitely tested my faith, especially in the beginning, but towards the end it kind of helped my faith,” said Kaylee. “I would pray for Him to help me get cleared and He did. It made me realize that He is by my side, and was walking this path with me.”
Showing immense love and dedication for their daughter’s care, Vanessa and Mark said they could not be prouder of Kaylee’s iron will and look forward to seeing her score again with her team. For Mark, nothing gives him greater joy than watching Kaylee dribble circles around others on the court.
“I think she’s matured a lot and kind of found herself because all she really knew was basketball, but she’s so much more than that. She’s gotten stronger both physically and mentally,” said Vanessa. “She’s just grown up so much. I know this has been incredibly hard for her, but it’s also shown her she can handle anything that comes her way.”
As she continues to slip back into her basketball sneakers, Kaylee said she is focused on making it through an entire season, injury free while having fun with her teammates.
She and her parents said they also hope her long journey can inspire other injured athletes to continue fighting and believing in the path to recovery.
“You just have to push through it and then play every game like it’s your last, because it could be,” said Kaylee. “You just have to love the game.”
Kaylee’s next game will occur at Augusta’s Curtis Baptist School at 6:45 p.m., located at 1326 Broad St.
