Alicia Karner was excited to watch her son Quin play basketball during his first summer league game in June 2021. It marked the first time in over a year she was able to watch the game in person. The excitement in the gym was palpable.
“It was the first year post-COVID, so everyone was really happy to be there,” she says. “We were excited to see each other and all the athletes out on the court.”
However, the mood in the gym changed just a few minutes into the game when Quin fell to the ground after contesting a layup. At first, Alicia expected him to hop to his feet, but when she looked closer, she could tell it wasn’t a minor injury.
“The referees immediately stopped the game, and I could see from where I was sitting that his leg was bent at a 45-degree angle. There was no question, his leg was broken,” Alicia says.