Destany’s Story

Thank you for following our blogs over the last three years! We truly value the opportunity to connect with you. Today marks our 100th blog, and we hope that each of our stories has been inspirational and informative, and drives you to learn more about supporting The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Your support helps kids like Destany! Over the years, Destany has participated on various competitive cheer teams. While she has been successful throughout her 11-year cheerleading career, she has also experienced a few set-backs.

Destany endured a stress fracture in her back at age 12. Her pediatrician referred her to Dr. Shaylon Retting, section chief of sports medicine at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.

“I wore a back brace for three months and did physical therapy to recover after my back injury,” Destany said. “I love Dr. Retting; he is so thorough and helpful, and really easy to talk to. He has been my physical therapist for several years now. I go straight to him any time I have an injury.”

In November 2015, Destany was just beginning her sophomore year at Brennan High School, where she is a member of the varsity cheerleading squad. Destany, a flyer and stunter on the squad, was at the top of a pyramid when it unexpectedly collapsed, causing Destany to fall to the ground. Destany was transported to a local hospital and was told that she had endured a severe concussion and spinal shock.

Destany was released from the hospital three days later and immediately returned to Dr. Retting.

“When Destany came into my office, she was unable to walk on her own,” said Dr. Retting. “She had major loss of motor strength on the right side of her body, almost like she had a stroke.”

Destany underwent extensive occupational and physical therapy for several months to work on her strength, relearning simple skills like walking up the stairs, cutting food, and gripping with her right hand.

“After several months of work with physical and occupational therapists, Destany made a lot of progress fairly quickly,” Dr. Rettig added. “In April 2016, I released her to return to cheering, with some restrictions.”

Today, Destany is back doing what she loves most – cheerleading. She is happy, healthy, and continues to become stronger everyday. She finished her sophomore year in the spring and looks forward to her upcoming junior year.

“My biggest dream is to go to college in Florida and win nationals as a member of the Top Gun All-Stars one day,” Destany said. “I still have a few more years to get there, but if anything happens, I know I have Dr. Rettig.”

To learn more about how you can make a difference for kids like Destany, please visit ChildrensHospitalSAFoundation.org.