From the sideline to the rugby field
At just 3 years old, Camden, an 8-year-old from Colorado was diagnosed with Pethes, a degenerative hip condition that forced her to avoid running, jumping, and impact activities in order to prevent potential surgeries. Her parents faced a difficult reality. “Trying to tell a 3-year-old to not jump is like telling the sun not to shine,” says her mother, Jamie. But they had to try. For three years, Camden watched from the sidelines as her friends played sports, skipped birthday parties at trampoline parks, and focused on biking, swimming, and physical therapy instead of running free.
“Trying to tell a 3-year-old to not jump is like telling the sun not to shine.”
Jamie, Camden’s mom
Finally, after years of patience and perseverance, Camden’s doctor gave her the green light—she could start running again. The first thing on her mind? Rugby. “She had been watching rugby for years, but now she could finally play,” Jamie shares. Camden eagerly joined her local girls’ rugby program and was overjoyed to finally run, kick, and be part of a team.
Now, Camden is in her third season of rugby, and she’s growing not just as a player, but as a leader. “She’s really stepping into her own,” says Jamie. As the new season begins, Camden is most excited about one thing: “Making new friends and playing with current friends,” Jamie notes. Her journey from the sidelines to the rugby field is a testament to her resilience, and she’s ready to tackle whatever comes next with her team by her side.
Join us in supporting more kids like Camden.