I can't keep it in. I made the Junior Olympic High Performance Team.

I shouldn't say I did it... I never would have been able to get this far in this amount of time if it were not for a great group of people who believed in my dream of being able to compete again.

I have heard the saying "It takes a Village," but I never really understood what that meant. Visions of children living in huts and dirt floors come to mind but I truly can not apply that to my life... at least not in that sense.

I think I now have an understanding of what "It takes a Village" means, at least to me. The numerous people that have inspired me, fought with me and let me fail only to cheer me on as I picked myself up are the people in my life that have made a difference. I could not have gotten this far in recovery and rehab without them.

I'm not back all the way. And the closer I get to the peak, the steeper the climb and the more afraid I am of re-injury. Dr. Hoffman shared that I was "rock solid" and 80 percent recovered. Jason Veil reassures me that the pains of muscle aches and growth is normal as he helps me stretch and recover from his hard workouts.

I knew all of this before going into tryouts for the Junior Olympic High Performance team. It scared me... seriously. The camp is intense. But it was incredible.

To be on the court again, in that competitive environment. To sweat, to be yelled at from USA's coach, Anne Kordes, as she's screaming "Em, I want that ball more than you do. If you think I'm wrong then prove it!"

I love her. It's all it took... the challenge was on. She flipped the competitive switch that is hidden somewhere in my heart and mind. I knew right then that I was the only one holding me back. My body automatically responded in the defensive position and somewhere within was this ferocious reply of "Coach give me the ball!"

Coach Kordes smiled and I knew then I was back.