The room, brightly lit, turns even brighter when she enters wearing her signature 10,000-watt smile, her upbeat attitude and optimistic outlook.
She is polite, courteous, and respectful of those around her. At just 15 and mature way beyond her years, Long Grove, Iowa’s Sophia Nelson, has the uncanny ability to understand where she has been, where she stands today, and where she is headed.
A high-energy sophomore at Eldridge, Iowa’s North Scott High School, Nelson also knows those in her corner – especially Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Katelyn Warner, PT, DPT – has – and will always be – there for her.
A beyond-gifted dancer who if she lacked one ounce less of intestinal fortitude and drive, would not be a two-year member of North Scott High School drumline, part of an all-state speech group, nor would she be part of a tremendous theater program (North Scott Lancer Productions) at the Eldridge, Iowa, based school.
Sophia Nelson does not lack motivation or drive.
Still, it must be noted, that if Warner, a compassionate, caring and exceptionally gifted therapist at Rock Valley’s Eldridge clinic were not part of the solution, Nelson would not be where she is competitively.
The Warner-Nelson winning combination began when Nelson suffered a labral tear in her right hip during a dance studio practice session three years ago.
“Ah, the life of a dancer,’’ Nelson said with a grin and a chuckle. “I was practicing at my old studio and hurt it (the hip) while doing this one trick. And then I did it (the trick) again and it hurt worse than the first time. I waited a few days to see if the pain would calm and then told my dad it was really hurting.’’
Because of her age – just 12 at the time of the injury – growth-plate issues delayed surgery to repair the hip.
It was then – while doing pre-surgery rehabilitation with Warner at Rock Valley – that the bond between patient and therapist was formed. It helps the Rock Valley’s Eldridge clinic is centrally located in town and just a block from North Scott High School, reasons the Nelson family sought Rock Valley – and Warner’s – help.
It didn’t hurt that a Quad-Cities’ area staple – Whitey’s Ice Cream – was nearby.
The real star, however, was Warner. She and Nelson were in sync from the start.
“From that first day, as a family, we have had nothing but great respect and trust for Katelyn,’’ said Sophia’s mother, Teresa Nelson. “She is family. We love our Katelyn.’’
A tremendous athlete in her playing days, Warner has a unique understanding of the highly motivated Nelson.
“Miss Sophia, what a personality, what amazing drive to get better,’’ said Warner, also a positive, high-energy type. “I was taken with her will and her wanting to get better. It was not long after we opened our clinic here in Eldridge that she came to us, and we are glad she did.
“Sophia is very dedicated, very motivated, and her drive to excel is off the charts,’’ added Warner. “It’s why she is so good at dance and why she excels in theater. Her injury was devastating, but she moved ahead.’’
The ride, which was smooth after Nelson’s rehabilitation and a successful return to competitive dance, took a bumpy turn recently.
“We finished each therapy session with some kind of dance routine from Miss Sophia,’’ Warner said, noting the pair even worked through hip-flexor tendinitis upon her return to competitive dance. “The mood of every therapy session was always upbeat. Miss Sophia wanted us to use the (gym) area where we were working as a dance studio. It was great she was back and doing great.’’
After successful stints with the North Scott squad and the Eldridge-based Luminous Dance Force studio Nelson competes out of, misfortune struck. She then suffered an Avulsion fracture (a fracture where a small piece of bone is pulled away from the main bone at the point where a tendon or ligament attaches) of her left hip while performing a split stand.
“After the Avulsion fracture, I walked her back (in the clinic) and just kind of hugged her,’’ Warner said. “She has been through so much.’’
Refusing to give in, Warner and Nelson are back, working hard to return Nelson to 100 percent and prepare her physically for the upcoming high school dance season and her dance studio’s competitive season.
It is then a wide smile crosses Warner’s face when she talks about Nelson’s commitment, her drive, and her upbeat spirit.
“She is fun,’’ Warner said of Nelson. “Nothing better than having a patient like Sophia who is as driven as she is. You can empower her with the right tools and the right resources, and you know she is just going to get after it. She has each time she gets challenged, and we are in the middle of answering the latest challenge. Oh, I love Miss Sophia. I am just as invested as they (the Nelson family) are. It’s heartbreaking to see things happen to her, but it is awesome to see the comebacks.’’
Nelson, in turn, has profound respect for Warner.
“She is amazing, we love her,’’ she said. “It’s always great to be around someone with such great energy who is willing to help me get better. I thought it (physical therapy) would suck, but Katelyn has made it so easy to get through. We are prepping for next (high school) dance season making sure I’m 100 percent ready.’’
Nelson says there is a chance she will dance in college and a chance she will continue to engage in theater.
“I’m thinking about a career as a landscape architect,’’ she said. “Design intrigues me. Right now, life is great. You just must have the right attitude.’’
And lots of amazing people in your corner.
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller