It’s been a long journey for Louisville Male High School football star Isaac Sowells Jr. Isaac, known by most as “Spike,” is among the highest-ranked high school offensive linemen in Kentucky and has been recruited by some of the top college programs in the country.

Spike recently announced his decision to play center at North Carolina State University. As he put on his Wolfpack hat in front of family, friends, media and even one of his Norton Children’s surgeons, Spike couldn’t help but reflect on the journey that got him to this point.

Overcoming injuries

Dating back to middle school, Spike has fought through some serious injuries. In 2019, he developed Osgood-Schlatter disease, a type of knee pain that most often occurs in athletes during growth spurts, when bones, muscles, tendons, and other structures are changing rapidly. That’s when Spike first met Jennifer M. Brey, M.D., pediatric sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon with Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville.

“Little did I know they would become family to me,” Spike said about Dr. Brey and the rest of the team at Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville.

The following year, Spike experienced a wrist fracture. The team at Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville evaluated the injury but determined surgery wasn’t needed.

He wasn’t so fortunate with the next injury.

In 2021, as Spike was getting ready for high school, he was working on some agility drills and slipped, and his leg went backward. Spike hit the ground in pain and couldn’t get back up.

After being taken to Norton Children’s Hospital by ambulance, Spike was diagnosed with a fractured femur that also dislocated his patella. Dr. Brey and physician assistant Kait M. Zagami, PA-C, performed surgery to repair the fracture and stabilize Spike’s leg and knee.

“This is the type of injury that can end careers,” Dr. Brey said. “We wanted to do everything we could to get him healed and back to what he loved.”

The surgery was a success, and with lots of rehab with Kait and the Norton Children’s orthopedics team, Spike was back on the football field the following season. Unfortunately, toward the end of his freshman season, Spike continued to have patella dislocations. Dr. Brey performed a second surgery to reconstruct the ligament to hold the patella in place.

Since the second surgery, Spike has taken his game to the next level with little issue. He continues to consult Dr. Brey and Kaitlin for any medical concerns that pop up.

Importance of having a team

Entering his senior season, Spike is a leader of his team.

“I want to be a guy that my teammates can look up to,” he said.

He knows the importance of having a great team, both on and off the field.

“Dr. Brey and ‘Dr. Kait’ got me through some very dark times,” Spike said. “Sports injuries, especially when you’re young, are something very hard to go through. I think it’s not talked about as much, but there are times where you feel depressed when you’re not able to move like other people.”

He’s so grateful that Spike even invited Dr. Brey and Kait to his college signing announcement and thanked them in his speech. As Spike saw Dr. Brey before his announcement, he smiled and gave her a big hug.

“I’ve seen them [the orthopedics team] more than some people see their families,” he said.

Dr. Brey credits Spike’s determination and positive attitude for getting to where he is today.

“My job is basically to kind of point him in the right path,” she said. “I can do surgeries, but it’s up to the patient to make sure that they do their rehab. He has always done that. He knew the commitment it was going to take to recover from his injuries, and he was able to do that.”

The surgeon is excited to see Spike reach his goals at the next level.

“He’s such a good kid,” she said. “He’s polite, very, very smart, and an inspiration for a lot of our younger athletes as well.”

Spike plans to graduate high school in December and enroll early at North Carolina State.