On November 29, 2022 while Pam Walston, aged 59 at the time, was chasing a stray dog, she fell and tore her right rotator cuff and bicep. A devoted swimmer, this injury was heartbreaking for Pam, who was told she would not be able to get back to swimming for six months at the earliest. 

Thanks to hard work, determination, and a physical therapist who believed in her, Pam was able to not only return to swimming almost immediately after her surgery, but she also completed an extremely challenging marathon swim only eight months after her injury. She's now doing better than ever. 

Immediately following her injury, Pam knew she wanted to get back into the water as soon as possible and already had a goal of swimming in the 2023 The Great Ohio River Swim, a challenging race only for the most experienced swimmers. 

“I talked to two doctors and went with the one who said it was possible to rehab it even though it wasn’t probable,” recalls Pam. 

Pam went through with the surgery on January 13, 2023 and was introduced to Blair Morris, Regional Director and Physical Therapist at STAR Physical Therapy in Hendersonville, on January 27. 

“A normal rotator cuff repair takes 6 to 12 months to return back to normal function without pain or discomfort,” says Blair. “When Pam told me her swimming goal on the first visit, I thought it was pretty significant for an almost healthy 60-year-old to be swimming this marathon, let alone one who just had surgery.” 

Blair consulted with Pam’s surgeon and communicated with him consistently to make sure they were both on board with her plan. Then, knowing what Pam wanted, Blair made no promises but designed an aggressive and specific therapy regimen that included in-office therapy, swimming practice with a sling, and returning to work at Nashville Dolphins, an aquatics school for children and adults with special needs.

“Swimming with a sling on is not something just anyone should try,” warns Pam. “It can be very dangerous,” she adds, noting that her recovery process was quite outside the norm.

Throughout her rehabilitation process working with Blair, Pam was extremely committed. “If he told me to do certain exercises two to three times a day, I did them three times a day,” recalls Pam. 

In February, after only being in physical therapy for about a month, Pam applied for the Great Ohio River Swim while still in a sling. She had to certify that she could swim 2 miles in 1 hour and give references.

In May, Pam found out she was accepted amongst 14 others to do the distance swim of 3.5 miles.

The week before the swim, the water levels in the Ohio River rose and made the current extremely dangerous. They warned swimmers not to do the race if they were not confident in their strengths and abilities. Of the 15 accepted, 14 showed up, 13 actually got into the water, and only 10 finished the race on August 27, 2023. 

Pam was the only woman over the age of 30 who completed the swim, and she won second place in the women’s division overall. Immediately following the distance race, Pam and seven others decided to swim the second race, which was an additional mile.

“It was a lot of fun…it was a hard morning, but it was therapeutic to finish it and know that I made it,” says Pam. 

Flash forward, now Pam is swimming 2-3 miles a day and just completed a challenge called “The Brute” which includes a 200-meter fly, 400-meter individual medley, and a 1-mile freestyle back to back for time. She swam her best time ever, 42 minutes. 

Additionally, Pam is still working with the Nashville Dolphins and teaching with both arms, “which makes it so much easier,” she laughs. 

Looking back, Pam has no regrets, not even being injured.

“The whole thing has made me a more compassionate person and a stronger adapted aquatics teacher,” she reflects. “Even though a lot of people thought (my) goal was unreachable, the harder I worked, the more I knew it was going to happen.”

Pam credits Blair for helping her immensely along the way, stating, “He pushed me as hard as I could handle, and being pushed is exactly what I wanted and needed him to do. I would recommend him to anybody."

“I enjoy connecting with my patients, delving into their passions and recovery goals. As we navigate uncharted territory and adversity, I guide and encourage them as they get back to doing what they love,” says Blair as he reflects on Pam’s journey back to health. “Witnessing their triumphs, like Pam's return to swimming, brings immense joy and satisfaction.” 

Indeed, witnessing a gifted and compassionate individual not only overcome challenges but also persist in positively influencing and inspiring the lives of many brings us incredible satisfaction, too.

Keep up the good work, Pam.