As Martin County takes the floor in the Sweet 16, their teammate will undergo surgery
BY BOO NEWSOME
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — When the Martin County Cardinals take the floor Thursday at Rupp Arena to play in the Sweet 16 they will be without one of their teammates.
Sophomore BJ Parsley will undergo surgery at the University of Kentucky Medical Center on the same day.
Parsley is a member of the basketball, football and tennis teams. He played summer basketball for the Cardinals last year and looked forward to the start of football season.
Parsley’s left leg had been hurting and his family first thought it was a case of tendonitis. However, when the pain never ceased, Parsley went for testing at UK Sports Medicine.
His diagnosis was an aneurysmal bone cyst. The rare bone tumor was growing in the proximal tibia of his left leg.
After further testing, he was scheduled for surgery Aug. 25.
Following the surgery, Parsley got the good news that the tumor was not malignant.
The bad news was that he would have to miss football and basketball seasons as he had to be off his leg for 12 weeks, then rehab three days a week for several months.
An aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign, blood-filled lesion in the bone that expands and grows and may return at any time.
During Parsley’s physical therapy and rehab, he knew something wasn’t right, so he had more testing that showed the tumor had returned.
“The doctor called and said it has to come out,” Parsley said.
“When my doctor told me that I would have to have surgery on the same day as the game, it was a rough pill to swallow. I have been looking forward to this ever since I attended high school and started playing sports. It’s always been my dream to make it to the Sweet 16.”
Parsley believes in his team.
“We can get a big win over Frederick Douglas,” he said. “If we do, I’m going to do everything I can to be at the game Friday.”
Martin County High School believes in Parsley.
Since news of Parsley’s second surgery broke, students have adopted a new slogan, “Team BJ.” They will be rooting not only for the Cardinals to win Thursday but also for Parsley.