Oct. 17, 2016- After finishing her first semester of college, and first season of college soccer at Lewis University, North Central College senior Taylor Markanich faced a tougher obstacle than she ever expected.  

Markanich went to Lewis University in the fall of 2013 on a athletic scholarship as well as, academic scholarship. She was a member of the women's soccer team there and was happy as could be to be finally attending her dream school, while not putting any financial strain on her parents.  

After wrapping up her first season, Markanich went to the University of Chicago to undergo what she was told was a "routine foot surgery." The doctors speculated that Markanich's foot did not develop corrected due to a birth defect or from wearing cleats that were too tight when she was younger. Either way, she underwent a procedure where the doctors needed to break her foot and reconstruct it with hardware and screws.  

After the operation, Markanich knew she was going to have a long road to recovery, however she did not realize how long that road was going to be. 

Markanich was bedridden for six weeks. She was told to lay in bed with her foot elevated and placed in a "terribly uncomfortable cheese wedge," which was placed to keep her foot elevated. She had to rely on her parents for everything.  

"The only time I got up was to go to the bathroom and I had to rely on the help of my parents every.single.time," explained Markanich. "You can only imagine how hard it was for me to bathe and having to rely on my mother to bathe me at the age of 19." 

It was during this time period that Markanich noticed that something was not right with the surgery; some of the hardware was shifting, and actually coming towards the skin on the top of her foot. Scared and confused as to why this was happening, Markanich sought the input of doctors at Northwestern University. It was then that she found out that during her first procedure, the doctor had cut nerves and cartilage which resulted in severe nerve damage. 

The doctors told her that they could try and correct the situation, but that the chances of Markanich following her passion and playing college soccer was slim. "The first thing the doctor said was, 'we're just trying to get you to walk. Soccer, athletics, is completely out of the picture, pretty much the rest of your life. We're just focusing on getting you to walk again,'"said Markanich. 

This was extremely hard for Markanich to accept. 

Markanich underwent her first of five corrective surgeries with doctors from Northwestern and was left her wheelchair bound. She returned to Lewis University for her second semester and recalls how difficult it was to wheel around to campus to get to classes.  

It ended up being too much for the freshman, so after that semester she returned home to Bourbonnais, Illinois.  

Markanich's life was not much easier at home. While she was glad to be surrounded by her tight-knit family, her heart was away at Lewis. She attended physical therapy four to five times a week, where she was learning to re-walk and use that part of her body.  

Markanich refers to this time period as "frustrating but rewarding."  

As time went on, Markanich grew stronger and her appointments with her physical therapist lessened.  

Markanich recalls the first time she ran again. "It hurt, it hurt like hell. It felt so awkward. You know, you don't think anything of running it just feel natural when you do it whether it is for 30 seconds or 20 minutes. But it was so unnatural. It was the most unnatural movement. It just seemed like my whole body was out of whack. It was so weird. I grew-up as a runner too. I was a big cross-country runner and everything. That was something me and my father did. We ran 5ks almost every weekend. We ran a half marathon when I was 11. So, just doing something that I was comfortable with doing and then not being able to do it comfortably was really weird." 

She was exceeding what the doctors had anticipated and on the road to playing sports again. That opportunity came in February of 2015. 

Knowing that she was not going to be the same player that she once was, Markanich sought out competitive Division III schools. She got into contact with North Central women's soccer coach Bonnie Young and took a liking to her.  

Markanich came to North Central in the fall of 2015 as a member of the women's soccer team. "When I was looking at Division III schools after everything, I narrowed it down between here and Augustana," explains Markanich. "The only reason I chose North Central over Augustana was because of Bonnie, 100 percent. I owe my decision of North Central to her. I cannot thank her enough for that." 

Further, Markanich credits her family for helping to inspire her to work hard in physical therapy and find herself back on the field. 

Since becoming a Cardinal, Markanich has grown and developed into a key player for the North Central offense. She scored her first goal this season against Edgewood College in the season opener.  

Despite all the challenges she faced, Markanich would not trade any part of the experience. "As much as I wish the surgery and all that didn't happen, I would've never ended up here if it wasn't for that," expressed Markanich. "North Central is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am just extremely happy here." 

Markanich urges that students should appreciate their time here and North Central, and cherish every moment because she believes these are the best four years of your life. 

The North Central women's soccer team face CCIW opponent Carol University this Wednesday at 5p.m. in Waukesha, Wis.