Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is proud to serve as The Official Health Care Provider of more than 100 schools, offering expert Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers for schools in Forsyth, Guilford, Yadkin, Davidson, Surry, Alleghany and Wilkes counties. Our mission is to keep your student-athlete and our community healthy, safe and injury-free.
Each month, we will be spotlighting some of our dedicated Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers and share tips and exciting news in the world of sports medicine and high school athletics.
For student-athletes, safety and successful injury recovery require a solid support system that bridges communication between athletic staff, students and families. This was certainly the case for Isaiah Edwards, a junior at East Forsyth High School, whose severe Achilles injury during spring football practice set him on a challenging recovery path. Thanks to the dedication of his Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist athletic trainer, Natalie High, and the hands-on involvement of his parents and family, Isaiah’s journey highlights how parent involvement and open communication accelerated his path to recovery.
A Season-Ending Injury
Isaiah Edwards, a junior at East Forsyth, didn’t even feel the moment that would change his football season - and his last chance to play alongside his older brother, Elijah, a senior. During a one-on-one drill last April, a fellow player accidentally fell onto Isaiah’s left leg, rupturing his Achilles tendon.
“I didn’t know what happened,” Isaiah recalls. “When I tried to get up, my foot wouldn’t leave the ground.”
Natalie High, an Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist athletic trainer and the head athletic trainer at East Forsyth, was nearby, and recognized immediately that something was wrong.
“This isn’t something you often see in high school sports,” she says, “Isaiah’s injury matched textbook symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture.”
Knowing how critical communication would be, she immediately contacted Isaiah’s father, Terry, and began stabilizing Isaiah’s leg.
Terry remembers the call all too well.
“Ironically, I had just gotten my wife, Tia, home from surgery when Natalie called and told me to come to the field right away,” he remembers.
Natalie’s prompt communication and quick action meant that Terry understood the seriousness of the injury, allowing him to arrive prepared and informed.
“She really quarterbacked the entire process, from coordinating urgent care to keeping us updated every step of the way,” he says.
Natalie recommended that Isaiah immediately go to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Orthopaedic Urgent Care for an x-ray. Meanwhile, Natalie alerted team physician and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Nick Trasolini, who placed an order for an MRI, and got Isaiah scheduled for surgery later that week.
This clear, proactive communication between all parties helped the Edwards family manage the stress of the day with greater confidence.
The Value of Communication
For Natalie, Isaiah’s injury was just the beginning of a recovery journey that would require constant communication with his parents.
“With our student-athletes, you get the best outcomes when you have the parents involved every step of the way,” High explains.
Natalie views herself as a “mother figure” on the sidelines, knowing that families need guidance and reassurance, especially when a child faces a serious injury.
“From evaluation to surgery, to rehabilitation, and back to play, involving parents ensures that their child’s well-being is always the top priority,” she says, emphasizing how frequent communication between herself, Dr. Trasolini, his physician assistant, Carley Larson, physical therapist, Craig Duggan, and most importantly, the Edwards family, built trust and kept all parties aligned.
This open communication that began with Natalie was pivotal for the Edwards family. Tia praised Natalie’s dedication and availability.
“She’s amazing. Anytime we needed to reach her, even after hours, she was there,” says Tia.
Natalie’s consistent updates gave the Edwards family peace of mind and allowed them to stay informed about every step in Isaiah’s recovery. This proactive approach meant that any adjustment in Isaiah’s rehab or medical plan was shared immediately, allowing Terry and Tia to feel involved and empowered to support Isaiah effectively.
A Family’s Commitment to Recovery
Isaiah’s journey toward recovery required both resilience and ambition, but his family’s active involvement kept him motivated and on track.
“I was scared,” he admits. “But my parents made sure I was doing everything I needed to do. They helped arrange my schedule and made sure I was where I needed to be.”
He credits his parents’ support and their open communication with Natalie as instrumental in his recovery, describing them as his “biggest fans.” Isaiah’s parents were proactive at every step, maintaining contact with his athletic trainers and medical providers to ensure a smooth recovery process. For Terry and Tia, “hands-off” was never an option.
“Kids don’t always know what they don’t know,” Terry explains. “As parents, we knew we had to stay involved and informed.”
This commitment to communication allowed them to address any issues that arose and to feel confident in Isaiah’s progress. Tia added that understanding each one of their four children’s needs is essential.
“We’re hands-on with all our kids, but with Isaiah, we knew we had to be more directly involved. He’s ambitious, but we wanted to ensure he followed medical advice,” she says.
Isaiah’s older brother, Elijah, played a unique role as both a supporter and motivator. As someone interested in sports medicine, Elijah often joined Isaiah’s physical therapy sessions, learning from Natalie and Craig, asking questions and reinforcing the exercises at home.
“Elijah wants to be a physical therapist,” Terry shares. “He encouraged Isaiah every step of the way, showing up to therapy and making sure Isaiah stayed on track.”
Elijah’s proactive communication with the therapists and Natalie strengthened the entire support network, ensuring Isaiah received consistent guidance both at home and on the field.
Keeping the Faith
For the Edwards family, faith provided a foundation of support throughout Isaiah’s injury and recovery. Terry is quick to point out that they are a family of spiritual faith and that their whole church community was praying for Isaiah’s surgery and recovery. But it was also faith in the system, and the people who were caring for Isaiah, that helped in Isaiah’s recovery.
'Faith, combined with proactive medicine, has been the perfect combination. We trust the process and know that with the right support, Isaiah will come out stronger,” says Tia.
As Isaiah reached the final stages of recovery, the focus remained on his safe return to play. “He hit all his markers,” Natalie confirmed, though she stressed that all parties involved - coaches, parents, and athletic trainers - are committed to ensuring Isaiah is fully ready before he returns to the field.
For Isaiah, this season holds special meaning.
“This season is important to me because it’s my last chance to be on the field with Elijah,” he says.
Isaiah received the news he was hoping for and is now cleared to return to football.
A Model for Parental Involvement and Open Communication in Athlete Safety
Isaiah’s journey exemplifies how parental involvement and consistent communication are essential to student-athlete safety and recovery. And with his family’s unwavering support, proactive athletic staff like Natalie, and a community rooted in faith, Isaiah’s story is a testament to the value of a team approach to injury prevention and care.
For families, coaches, and schools alike, Isaiah’s journey is a reminder that athletic safety and recovery thrive on collaboration, with parents playing a vital, irreplaceable role.
If you or a loved one experiences an injury or pain, schedule a same or next-day appointment with our Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine specialists. Call 888-716-WAKE (9253) or visit WakeHealth.edu/HURT.