Alexandria Ledgerwood '16 Recruiting Profile

Before I tell you about my dreams, goals and aspirations, I have to tell you what's made me a strong person. When I was in the 8th grade I had Thyroid Cancer and had to under go surgery to take out this tumor that was in the left side of my neck. I was told it would be a 6 week recovery and I was mad because I needed to go to school and work out to prepare for my season. Then as I was recovering,  I was hit with more news,that my doctor told me I had a heart defect if he had not found this I would have died around my twenties playing softball and this was all because I had a inch and a half hole in the left chamber of my heart causing my good and bad blood to mix which was only giving me 30% oxygen to my whole body and lungs. My doctor told me that I shouldn't be able to get up out of bed let alone be playing softball so I guess that showed me that I can do anything as long as I work hard for it because I have been playing softball for about 10 years now. I ended up having open heart surgery, I was told it would be a 8-12 week recovery and I was determined to only make it an 8 week recovery! So for those 8 weeks I was watching softball and going over my plays and scenarios in my head while trying to finish my 8th grade year. Now, I am a healthy 16 year old girl who is in love with her sport and works hard everyday to be the best and live everyday as if it was my last. So now you have asked what my dreams are and well I would love to be playing for an amazing college, I also want to try out for the Olympic team and maybe play some pro ball. My goals in life have been to graduate high school, play college softball and to become a Pediatric Cardiologist. I have chosen this because what happened to me was so inspiring and of course my desire to play for the Olympic team and go pro. My aspiration is to be a Pediatric Cardiologist because of not only going through what I have been through, but I want to help out other children in need of hope and helping them be able to achieve their dreams. I know I can offer that to them. Finally, I would love to bring money back to my home state,of Oregon, so that colleges from all over would want to find their next big player here.  I would do anything and everything to keep this sport alive and going strong for other young women.