Feature Story

Tennis is Thomas Kibler’s life. The 19-year-old served as captain of the West Branch High School tennis team, was a two year letterman, was named to the All Northeastern Ohio Tennis League and was the recipient of the Gatorade Player of the Year Award. All that glory came to a painful halt on April 13, 2005.

“I was practicing with the West Branch boy's tennis team and I went to hit the ball with my racket when something in my right leg and knee snapped,” Thomas recalls. “I remember dropping my racket and instantly going down on the court. I didn't want to breathe due to the pain.”

An ambulance rushed Thomas to a hospital near his Beloit, Ohio, home where doctors told him he needed to see an orthopaedic surgeon. Without hesitating, Thomas’ mother, Aldora Jeffers, called Shriners Hospitals for Children-Erie, where an appointment was immediately scheduled. There was never any question where to take Thomas for treatment. The Erie Shriners Hospital had taken such good care of Thomas when he was a 7-month-old infant with club feet.

Drivers from the Alliance (Ohio) Shrine Club transported Thomas and his mother to the Erie Hospital where they met with Joseph Khoury, M.D. After examinations and tests, surgery was scheduled for April 26 to correct a recurrent patellar dislocation and redirect forces to balance Thomas’ knee cap.

Although Thomas’s injury is fairly common in athletes, Dr. Khoury noted that the corrective surgery can be quite extensive and is not without potential complications. In Thomas’ case, fibrous scar tissue formed around the joint causing his knee to become very stiff. During the next several months, Thomas underwent intensive inpatient physical therapy and two surgical knee manipulations to increase flexibility and range of motion. Finally on July 9, nearly three months after his injury occurred, Thomas was able to return home where he continued to receive outpatient physical therapy.

“Several times I wanted to give up, but my mom would encourage me everyday, no matter how down I felt or how much pain I was in,” Thomas recalls. “The intense inpatient physical therapy Thomas received was the key to his recovery,” Dr. Khoury says. “Had he not come to Shriners Hospital for his treatment, he would not have been able to receive such intense inpatient therapy.”

Both Dr. Khoury and Kevin Habursky, Thomas’ physical therapist, had doubts about whether Thomas would ever play tennis again, but the young athlete’s determination has paid off. “My knee is now at a 140 degree bend, which is better than normal, and I’m back playing tennis again,” Thomas says. “I owe a lot to Dr. Khoury and everyone at the Erie Shriners Hospital. I could never have received such great care anywhere else.”