“Reality challenges and rewards. I believe our best days are yet to come.”
When Jillion Potter emailed this famous presidential quote to the team a few weeks ago, the magnitude of her strength and leadership really hit home within the Valkyrie community. Not only was she facing a devastating injury heading into the the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup, but she was dealing with a reality no athlete ever wants to go through – the possibility of never being able to play again. While the rest of us struggled with simply hearing about her recent weeks, she was already on her way to recovery…and inspiring us along the way.
During a test match against Canada in late June, Jill experienced a severe neck injury. From there she was flown to New Jersey to have surgery in order to stabilize her spine. The surgery involved fusing two vertebra together using a bone graph and titanium plate. With the best spinal surgeon in the country, the support of the rugby community, and Jill’s amazing optimism, she will hopefully be back on the pitch in a year.
The members of the current USA National Team have been in the making for over 4 years and Jill has always been a big part of that. During the last year Jill has emerged as a leader on the team, and was selected as forwards captain going into the 2010 CanAm Games and World Cup. To have your captain go down weeks before the World Cup is devastating, but to not have her with you while you compete would be even more heartbreaking. The costs have added up for Jill and her family, including those which will allow her to be in England during the games. You can help offset medical costs, bills, and send Jill to the World Cup by contributing here. You can also donate items to be raffled during the “Support Our Eagles” fundraiser which will be held on August 28th, 2010 at Legends Bar and Grill.
Please go here to help support Jillion’s recovery.
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How can a National Team take the field in a full international and not have adequate medical coverage?
Is USA Rugby (or its insurance) picking up any of the costs, or just some of the costs?
If they are not picking up anything, it sounds like a major “miss” by USARFU, and players should organize and demand something better before kitting up.
Real, big kid health insurance like you would like get from working a decent job can run in $1000 per month for HMO/POS coverage. Apparently the USOC has subsidized coverage for athletes….