Teen Basketball Player Undergoes Heart Surgery
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Last month we brought you the story of Maddie Briggs, a junior girls basketball player at St. Michael-Albertville who has Turner Syndrome.
Maddie had always wanted to play varsity, and on Jan. 13, she finally got her wish – scoring six points plus getting a rebound.
After scoring her first basket she gave her mom the game ball.
"In that moment I looked in her face and I knew how proud she was of me. And how hard I worked. And she knew how much I wanted this moment," Maddie said.
Maddie's first time on varsity would be her last time on the court for quite a while. When Maddie was 5, she was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome. It's a genetic disorder that affects girls and can cause a serious heart defect.
"We knew there was a possibility of surgery one day," Maddie's mom, Deborah, said. "What we didn't know was that it was going to be now."
On Jan. 21, Maddie had open heart surgery at Children's Hospital to fix an enlarged aorta.
"I knew in the moment I was done being scared. I was done," Maddie said. "I've had this since I was 5 and I was ready to get it done and start feeling great again."
After several days in the hospital, Maddie is now recovering at home, doing schoolwork and catching up on her favorite past-time.
"I'm non-stop always watching basketball," Maddie said.
But it'll be a little while before she can return to school. Instead of working on her jump shot, she's working on getting her strength and stamina back – recovering at home, but far from alone.
Even at 4 feet, 11 inches tall, Maddie is someone to look up to. Friends, teammates, and even players from other towns have sent well wishes.
"The support has really helped," Deborah said. "Every time the girls come over or there is another card in the mail, it keeps her going. It keeps her motivated. On the days she's feeling tired and fatigued it keeps her going."
But it's Maddie who's really motivating others. Even though she can't be with her teammates, she's still their biggest fan.
"Never be afraid to follow your dreams and always reach your goals. Just believe in yourself because any dream is attainable," she said.
Maddie won't be able to play basketball the rest of the year, but she could return to school in a couple weeks. Her goal is to get better and build her strength back up so she can make the varsity team as a senior.
