The roar of the crowd filled the Encinal gym during the annual teachers vs. students March Madness basketball game March 13. Both teams played fiercely for not only bragging rights but also the trophy. Then suddenly, silence fell over the crowd and players as one of the teachers went down, writhing in pain. World History and AP African American Studies teacher Andrew Lee had torn his patellar tendon.
Lee competed in last year’s March Madness game, in which the teachers lost at the buzzer. He aimed to change that this year, entering the game with high hopes.
“I was playing in the student-staff basketball game for the second year,” Lee said. “My goal was to score more than zero points this time.”
That goal was cut short by a serious knee injury, specifically to his patellar tendon.
“I was trying to save a loose ball that I deflected towards out of bounds, and my momentum carried me right into the door frame in the gym,” Lee said, “which I collided with at pretty much top speed while I was airborne.”
After this accident, Lee was rushed to the hospital and given X-rays of his knee on the same day.
“I went in and got X-rays on Friday, March 13, and on the following Monday, I had knee surgery,” Lee said. “At that point because the patellar tendon is… involved in bending your leg, my leg just doesn’t know how to bend; it’s not strong enough because it just got sewn back together and they don’t want the stitches to rip so I have to keep it in this brace for about the next month or so while it gets stronger.”
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the patellar tendon works by attaching the kneecap to the shinbone. Lee is now undergoing rehabilitation to regain the ability to walk properly.
“I have to do rehab until it’s able to bend fully,” Lee said. “And until I get a full range of motion and normal walking back.”
After Lee’s surgery, he was sent home with a knee brace, becoming significantly less mobile. Despite all of these setbacks and changes, he remains to possess a positive attitude.
“I spent a lot of time on the couch. I took a lot of Tylenol and Motrin. I didn’t have to take any stronger painkillers, which was nice, and my wife and kids ran around and fetched things for me for the most part.” Lee said. “The most annoying thing is probably getting places because it’s hard to drive like this, and also showering is complicated. Other than that, getting up and down stairs is very irritating, but a lot of the other stuff I can sort of move around as long as I rest.”
Due to his injury, Lee was not able to participate in “Ride 4A Reason,” an annual event that raises money for public schools in Alameda and Oakland, in which riders bike from Oakland to Sacramento. An avid cyclist, Lee participates every year.
“I was planning to do ‘Ride 4A Reason’ at the end of April, and I can’t do that now. I always bike to work, and I can’t do that.” Lee said. “I feel like that’s the main thing, just being able to move around normally and being able to enjoy myself on a bike is out of the window for the next three to four months at least.”
After his injury, Lee ultimately decided to retire from the teacher vs. student basketball game.
“I don’t think I’m playing anymore. I really love ‘Ride 4A Reason,’ and I want to be at full athletic ability every year when I do any sort of non-biking sport in the lead up to the end of April,” Lee said, “I have to not get hurt and so it’s not really worth it to take that sort of risk at this point. I don’t want to tear my knee again. One rehab is enough for me.”
