Talynn, 17, is a Level 10 gymnast, competing among some of the best athletes in the country, with dreams of competing in college. When she was 12 years old, she started having severe back pain. “At one point, I was walking like I had a hunchback,” said Taylnn. “I couldn’t even carry a backpack at school - it hurt too much.” She needed expert care to get her back to competing at a high level and sought help from specialists at the Sports Medicine Center at the Children’s Hospital Colorado South Campus, Highlands Ranch. They quickly diagnosed her with a half-dozen stress fractures. Despite the grim diagnosis, her care team had a plan to get her back into competing shape by strengthening her muscles while healing her injuries. Her sports medicine doctor at Children’s Colorado, Emily Sweeney, MD, who was a gymnast herself, describes Talynn as an extremely hard worker who has a level of self-awareness that is beyond her years. “I know she is going to do great things, both in gymnastics and in the rest of her life,” said Dr. Sweeney. Talynn started a physical therapy routine overseen by Dr. Sweeney while she started to heal.

Talynn wasn’t just treated for her physical injuries; she also received care from a sports psychologist because she was struggling mentally with the fact that her body didn’t allow her to keep competing and performing like she was used to. “Without the help I received at Children’s Colorado, I wouldn’t be able to be a gymnast anymore. They helped me learn how to recognize when my body needs a break and how I can get stronger and stay strong to prevent further injuries,” said Talynn.