Photo courtesy of Paul Julian.
On an ordinary day in January, senior Leah Smith sits in yet another bland waiting room awaiting results from a third opinion. Surrounding her are her supportive parents and the hopeful wishes of her teammates, coaches, and friends.
Her phone rings with many text messages wishing her luck. Smith forces a smile on her face as a doctor comes out to greet her and her parents, hopefully with answers to her mystery medical problem.
Welcome to the life of an active student athlete. A life that used to be full of soccer games and cross country races has now developed into one of blood tests, white hospital walls, and a lot of waiting and wondering.
“Like, what even is POTS?” Smith said after receiving a rare diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS.
Running across the freshly painted finish line, the undeniable sound of cleats and the ball furiously working together, and fans cheering on the sidelines are aspects of soccer and cross country Smith has to say goodbye to, as a medical diagnosis puts a stop to her sports career.
Smith has enjoyed an involved high school experience, participating in cross country all four years of high school, and soccer only up until senior year due to a medical complication.
“I first started noticing a problem sophomore year during soccer season when I’d start having a sharp and burning pain through my lungs, and have trouble breathing after exercise,” Smith said.
Through a series of doctor appointments, multiple hospitals, and many diagnoses, Smith worked to find the answer to her physical pain.
“I was first misdiagnosed with asthma and put on several different inhalers and a steroid for asthma; then it was confirmed I did not actually have asthma. I then went through several medical tests at Mary Lanning, and lastly I went to University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), where they made sure I didn’t have anything serious like a spinal cord problem, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cancer, because my symptoms were similar to all three. Luckily, everything was clear,” Smith said.
Smith finally got answers when she was diagnosed with POTS.
POTS affects the central nervous system, which regulates blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing patterns. POTS is characterized as a syndrome, meaning a group of symptoms, not a disease. There are a range of symptoms; Smith has experienced an increased heart rate, drop in blood pressure, chest pains, and dizziness upon standing.
“For the most part everyday life is normal except I tire more easily,” Smith said.
By senior year of cross country, Smith was unable to compete in most meets.
“Throughout the process of getting diagnosed my teammates and my coaches were very supportive. They treated me exactly the same whether I was placing at meets or coming in last, unable to finish,” Smith said.
Head cross country coach, Scott Rosno, has known Leah since middle school, as well as coached her for four years.
Rosno describes Smith’s journey in three phases, “Early on, her sincere enthusiasm and willingness to be coached were enough. In the middle, the combination of off-season commitment and a desire to compete positioned Leah as a Captain and a Leader relied upon by her teammates. Finally, the challenges and adversity of health issues made the path difficult to traverse. But the same impact she made on others just might have been the guidance and support needed to keep her journey the true reward, and not just a destination.”
Smith’s strong will was unwavering.
“Physically, hills may have become more steep and miles seem longer, but mentally, the internal strength was never more evident,” Rosno said.
Smith was grateful to finish out her last year of cross country, happy to just be a part of the team. Unfortunately, since Smith’s official diagnosis, the 2018 spring soccer season is out of the picture for her.
“Throughout the season last year Leah wasn’t able to run as fast or as long as she used to, and even though you could tell she was trying her hardest, she was physically unable to play for long amounts of time,” teammate of six years, senior Haylee O’Connell said.
“I’ve accepted the fact I won’t ever be able to do all the things I used to do and that’s okay. I like to live and act as if there was nothing wrong with me, like what even is POTS? I won’t let it define me. My life has really been affected by this experience; I think it’s really given me a better perspective and has made me more grateful for the things I do have in life, and for that I’m thankful,” Smith said.
“All I can say is, ‘Leah, thank you for all you did and thank you for all you did for others’,” Rosno said.
