Alanna Waters, Lacrosse Coach, Comments on Story Regarding Lacrosse’s Influence on a Young Transplant Patient

New York, New York (PRWEB) February 28, 2013

According to Alanna Waters, lacrosse coach, the sport has a powerful ability to inspire athletes of all levels. This is demonstrated particularly poignantly in a new article released by Fox 5 San Diego. The piece tells the story of a 13-year-old patient who used lacrosse as a motivational tool to stay positive during a liver transplant.

Nick Wallace was in need of a new liver due to Biliary Atresia, a disease that blocks the bile ducts and leads to liver failure. While Wallace anxiously awaited a new liver for eight months, and after a couple of false starts, he finally received his new organ.

When speaking about the procedure, Wallace notes, “I was overjoyed. Right when my mom told me I was going to get a new liver I started imaging the life I had in front of me. Lacrosse, forever.” The thought of once again participating in lacrosse helped Wallace to endure 11 hours of grueling surgery.

Alanna Waters, lacrosse enthusiast, can relate to Wallace’s passion regarding the sport. She states, “I hope to have lacrosse in my life forever too. Playing on lacrosse teams has that effect on you. In the simplest of terms, the sport is just so much fun. I am a happier person because I have lacrosse in my life. There is nothing like the feeling of camaraderie among your teammates and or the rush you feel when winning a big game.”

She goes on to note, “Lacrosse isn’t an individual sport, you need a team to be successful and the support from the lacrosse community for Nick Wallace is an example of how powerful this sport can be. His recovery will undoubtedly be faster because he has the rest of his life to look forward to the best game in the world.”

Wallace was able to re-join his lacrosse team for practice in mid-January. RC Carolina coach Dave O’Neil commented on his return stating, “I think all of the kids look up to Nick, honestly. They take it as it’s a privilege to be out here and play this game. They see one of their friends, who hasn’t been able to play all season, a kid who loves the game so much.” According to Alanna Waters, lacrosse teams benefit from an added boost of unity with the influence of a leader like Wallace.

ABOUT:

Alanna Waters, lacrosse player and coach, is currently the head varsity girls’ lacrosse coach at Metro Lacrosse. The program caters to urban youth, helping them to develop their skills while learning important life lessons.

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