Rylee Foster was a cup hero for Liverpool sooner or later and the following her world was turned the wrong way up by a horror automobile accident that left the goalkeeper with a damaged neck in seven locations.
Final October, Foster was the penalty shootout hero for Liverpool Girls, making a decisive save in opposition to Aston Villa to seal the win for her group on a euphoric evening at Prenton Park.
The Canadian has not worn her gloves for the Reds since.
Simply days after her heroics, Foster was concerned in a automobile accident in Finland that noticed her ejected by way of the windscreen and left with a damaged neck, two decrease again fractures, a damaged cheekbone, misaligned jaw, partially torn MCL within the knee, partially torn quadricep tendon and a subdural haematoma at the back of her head.
The 23-year-old’s life modified instantly and as a substitute of focusing her vitality on Liverpool’s promotion again to the Girls’s Tremendous League, it was all centred on restoration.
Foster had a halo fixation machine, which was screwed into her cranium in 4 locations to assist make sure the neck remained nonetheless, earlier than switching it out for a neck brace – which was solely lately eliminated.
“It’s been a protracted journey, over 9 months now. The summer season was difficult, it’s arduous when you realize try to be prepping for pre-season, and I’m not,” Foster instructed This Is Anfield.
“I’m simply sitting by the pool, studying a guide and floating round, getting my tan on. It’s only a bit totally different and I feel it’s a humbling expertise.
“However I’m in place, I’m progressing. I acquired the collar off two weeks in the past, I’m in place.”
The journey has been lengthy and you can’t think about the psychological resilience required by Foster all through the final 9 months and people nonetheless to return.
A protracted highway again
This Is Anfield caught up with Foster throughout Liverpool Girls’s media day, an event that noticed the younger ‘keeper again in a Liverpool equipment, together with her gloves and boots, for the primary time since October 2021.
There has by no means been a assure that Foster might return to the pitch however a rehabilitation plan has lengthy been in place with consultants serving to her each step of the best way.
“It’s a bit bittersweet, it’s arduous,” Foster defined.
“That is the primary time I’ve been within the equipment because the accident, really because the Aston Villa recreation, the primary time I’ve put my gloves and boots on since then.
“It type of takes your breath away a bit, it’s good to not less than be part of it. I didn’t know if I’d have the ability to be part of this, my profession might have been taken from me loads earlier.
“I’m so lucky to be within the place I’m, to have the ability to partake and, hopefully, have the ability to use [these gloves] for the day I return.
“I’ve been taking every thing step-by-step, not getting too forward of myself. I like to stay humble and affected person with the expertise.”
Whereas Matt Beard’s facet is closing in on their WSL comeback, Foster has no timescale on a return together with her intensive accidents every requiring time and persistence to heal.
The precedence will at all times be for the highest quality of life, however Foster, who has a ‘You’ll By no means Stroll Alone’ tattoo on her arm, nonetheless has a lot to realize in soccer.
“There’s positively not a deadline or timescale. I’ve a variety of accidents to restore, clearly my neck was very, very extreme,” Foster mentioned.
“I acquired to do the knee, my hip, shoulder, and decrease again – you would possibly as effectively simply add every thing to the listing.
“It’s going to be a protracted journey, however we’re progressing. I’m out of the neck brace, I’m shifting my neck round, I’m strolling, extra pain-free than I used to be earlier than which is thrilling. Step-by-step.”
Lacking that ‘adrenaline rush’
@ryleefoster_98 Nonetheless blows my thoughts? #restoration #rehab #physiotherapy #physio #vary #neck #brokenneck #damage #rehabilitation #survivor #trauma #ache #journey #steps #cellular #train #progress #therapeutic ? authentic sound – Kira Kosarin
Foster has been documenting her extremely inspiring journey on Tik Tok, taking followers by way of the challenges and feelings of her restoration and answering all of the regularly requested questions.
A therapeutic solution to navigate the accidents one would think about, however her teammates have been proper behind her as Foster seems to be to return to what she loves most.
“I feel I miss that adrenaline rush, stepping onto the pitch for coaching, flying within the objective, throwing my physique round. I miss wanting to do this, proper now I’ve been hesitant,” Foster mentioned.
“But additionally the group environment, I’ve been a little bit bit withdrawn from the group simply naturally due to my circumstances, but it surely’s typical while you’re injured.
“The women have been nice, very supportive, preserving me included with every thing, it’s only a totally different expertise.”
For now, Foster’s work continues away from the principle group however the success of Euros and the promotion-winning marketing campaign for the Reds has the ‘keeper excited in regards to the potentialities of the upcoming marketing campaign.
Anfield taking part in host to the Merseyside derby headlines the listing, and whereas it’s far too quickly for Foster to play any half, the event needs to be the primary of many in seasons to return.
“I want I might pace up my rehab to get to that time!” Foster mentioned of September’s recreation at Anfield.
“That shall be superb, I do know the final time we performed Everton at Anfield we had over 20,000+ and I feel that ought to solely be increased now coming off the season we simply had and the Euros.
“I feel the ladies are in all probability ecstatic, it’s in all probability the very best factor we will hear.
“That’s what we have to do as a membership, get us on the large stage the place the followers need to be and encourage folks to see that we’re the place we must be, again the place we belong and that we will play nice soccer.”
Hopefully, Foster generally is a key a part of that sooner or later and assist encourage the following technology in additional methods than one.
