When Kennedy’s elbow first started bothering her, the injury began affecting much more than gymnastics. She struggled to participate fully in her sport, had difficulty carrying her school and gym bags, and dealt with her elbow locking up frequently.
Behind that pain was a serious diagnosis: osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in her elbow. Once the cause of her symptoms was identified, the next step was a difficult but necessary decision — elbow surgery.
Reflecting on that time, Kennedy’s mother shared:
“Dr. Chudik and his team were amazing! Of course, there were never any guarantees that she would be able to continue with her sport, but he understood how important gymnastics was to her and said he would do everything he could to get her back.”
The surgery was a success, and with physical therapy Kennedy was able to return to gymnastics full time. She went on to complete her 12th competition season and has since hung up her grips after an impressive comeback.
Looking back on her journey, Kennedy offers this encouragement to others facing a similar setback:
“It might feel like the end of the world, but it’s not! You will come back stronger (and feel so much better) once you’ve healed.”
Kennedy’s mother also reflected on her recovery, sharing:
“The surgery was a big success for Kennedy and she is doing great now! With physical therapy, she was able to get back to gymnastics full time. She just completed her 12th competition season and has just hung up her grips.”
— Kennedy and Family