Just keep going: An athlete’s perseverance pays off

‘Parkland helped me during this tough time’ DALLAS – For the past six months, 17-year-old Eddrick Jordan has spent countless hours in Parkland Health’s physical therapy room, getting stronger each week so he could get back to the sport he loves. Jordan’s love for sports dates to his early childhood when he played alongside his younger brother. But it was always football that attracted him. His mother, April Martin, remembers how at a young age Jordan showed commitment to the game. “I could never get him off the football field,” she said, grinning at her phone as she swiped through pictures of young Jordan sporting his massive football gear. This sentiment reflected his deep connection to the sport. “Playing football is my passion and it allows me to get out of my comfort zone,” Jordan said. But what took years of practice to perfect, felt threatened in an instant. During a pre-season scrimmage, he felt a sudden sharp pain shooting up his left leg. As soon as he took a quick left turn, he felt a popping sensation. All he could feel was immense pain as he tried to support himself standing. “He experienced a twisting injury during the game,...