"She had an 'S' for her back": How Terrebonne softball star returned from surgery to lead Lady Tigers
"I didn't think much of it. I didn't think it would be serious."
That was how Terrebonne softball junior Brailynn Boudreaux reacted to her scoliosis diagnosis. While obviously a significant medical condition, Boudreaux never thought it could impact her softball career. Eventually, though, it did.
"People don't understand how bad it really was," said THS head coach Tony Braud. "She had a letter 'S' for her back."
And so, Boudreaux's hand was forced. The two-year starter at shortstop went under the knife to fix her back. While the surgery was a success — she even grew two inches as a result — she had to spend a significant amount of time away from the diamond to rehabilitate. There was a chance the surgery could have been a career-ender.
"All that was on my mind was, 'What if I'm not able to play the game again?'" said Boudreaux. "It was very stressful. I had a lot of anxiety, it was very nerve-racking."
"When you lose any starter, you're kind of in a bind," said Braud. "With the serious injury she had, I wasn't too sure if she could come back."
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During her time spent rehabbing, Boudreaux turned herself from a top player to a top fan, attending games and practices to support the Lady Tigers.
"I would go to games even when I couldn't play," Boudreaux said. "When I was feeling up to it, I'd go to practice. I did everything I can to help the team out."
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With Boudreaux sidelined for her recovery, Terrebonne finished last season three games under .500 and missed out on the LHSAA playoffs. But entering this season, the Lady Tigers got some good news: Boudreaux was given the clearance by her doctors to play softball again.
"It was amazing," Boudreaux said. "It felt like I had a weight lifted off my shoulders."
When the 2024 season began in mid-February, Boudreaux took her familiar spot at shortstop and returned to the starting lineup.
"I knew she had the mindset to come back," said Braud. "Her name was on that lineup card from the day she had that surgery."
Boudreaux actually needed some time to get back up to the speed of live games, but once she did, she confidently returned to form.
"I showed everybody that this is where I'm supposed to be," Boudreaux said. "This is what I'm supposed to be doing."
"She put the work in," said Braud. "She's a team leader, whether that's in the dugout, on the field, or in the classroom, so she did what she had to do to come back and make the team."
The physical return was difficult at times, but the mental aspect of it was just as tough.
"I get chills just thinking about her comeback," said Braud. "I love her to death."
"When I first came back, emotionally, I put myself down," Boudreaux said. "But I learned to pick myself up, pick up my team, and do my part."
This article originally appeared on The Courier: How Terrebonne softball star returned from surgery to lead Lady Tigers
