Story
Hi everyone,
My name is Laura Macy and I'm a 22-year-old professional dancer based in Liverpool, UK. In January this year, I fell out of a turn combination during an audition and landed badly on my knee, breaking the kneecap in half.
The doctor who examined me delivered the words that every dancer dreads hearing: "this has the potential to end your career". I was referred to a specialist to assess if I needed surgery, and when they couldn't decide I was referred to another doctor for a third opinion. I started to feel very anxious as each medical professional had a completely different idea of which path would give me the best chance of full recovery. Unsure of which opinion to trust, I started researching other dancers' recovery stories to find some reassurance, and this is when I discovered the Dance Again Foundation.
I contacted the chair of the charity (Celia) to explain my situation and ask for some guidance. It was a huge relief when she replied within a few hours reassuring me that they could help. They shared lots of useful information about different funds I could apply for should I need to pay to be seen by a dance specialist, they helped me to fill out forms and x-ray requests, and their knowledge and experience in the dance side of the medical industry gave me someone to trust when I was surrounded by so many conflicting opinions. As a self-employed artist, I had been completely terrified about the fact I couldn't work, let alone do daily tasks such as walking or driving, but the Dance Again Foundation signposted me to other organisations that could help.
I'm extremely grateful to say that I'm now recovering well without surgery, and the prospects of me dancing to my full potential again are very high. I believe your mindset is a significant part of your recovery, and The Dance Again Foundation gave me the reassurance and support I needed during a time when everything was so uncertain. They're only a small organisation but they made a huge difference to my recovery, and I know they could help a lot of dancers in the future too. If you have any spare pennies, any donations would be really appreciated! You'd be helping future dancers to find the right support during their recovery, giving them the best fighting chance of continuing to do what they love.
