I had some X-rays taken in the Radiology Department, and then I had to have an MRI, which is like an X-ray of your muscles. The doctor told me that I had torn my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and would need to have surgery to repair it. Or course, this was not what I wanted to hear, because I knew it meant I couldn't play basketball for a while. But I knew that they would take good care of me at Children's Hospital. The doctor said it was a simple surgery, and I wouldn't even have to stay overnight at the hospital.

I couldn't have anything to eat after midnight the day before my surgery, so my dad cooked me my favorite meal, lasagna, for an early dinner the night before. He's a great cook! The next morning my mom drove me to Children's Hospital. I wasn't too nervous on the way there because we left at 5 a.m., and I was still half asleep.

When we arrived at the hospital, we checked in at the Admitting Department and waited a short time before going upstairs to Outpatient Surgery. I started to feel a little apprehensive, but Kristi, the nurse who prepared me for surgery, was so nice that I forgot about being scared. Kristi measured my height, weight and blood pressure. She said I was very tall for my age, and I told her that is why I play basketball.

Then Kristi showed me to my room. I changed into a gown, and she put my clothes in a bag for my mom to keep with her. She also had me take out my contact lenses since I would be asleep during surgery. I got in my bed, and Kristi put an IV in my hand that would release medicine I needed during my surgery. It wasn't painful; I just felt a slight prick. She also gave me some medicine to swallow that made me even sleepier than I already was. After a few minutes I got to meet Greg, my anesthesiologist. He told me that he would be there during my surgery to make sure I didn't feel a thing, and he also asked my mom and me some questions about my health. My doctor also stopped by to see us for a few minutes before surgery.

I think I had been dozing off when another hospital worker, Sam, came to take me to the sixth floor for my surgery. I waved good-bye to Kristi, and she said she would see me afterward. Mom walked with us part of the way and then went to sit in the surgery lounge. I couldn't really see Sam because my contacts were out, but he was also very nice. He rolled me all the way to the surgery room; I got to stay in my bed the entire time. The only thing I really remember about the room is that it was very bright. I breathed some medicine from a mask, and I think I fell asleep immediately.

After my surgery, I was taken to the recovery room for a little while just so the nurses could make sure I was doing well. I don't remember being there, though, because I was still asleep. They told me later that they knew I was OK when I woke up because I was talking so much.

The first thing I actually remember was being back in my room with my mom there beside me, holding my hand. In about an hour, I was feeling much more awake. Kristi came back to see me, and she told me what a great patient I had been. I stayed in my room a little bit longer before they told me I could go home. It was that easy!