Thursday, October 3, 2024
It was Easter Sunday, 2023 when Bryce Hackett received a call from his dad that would change everything.
The first-year student at The at Fort Worth鈥檚 鈥檚 dad told him he wouldn鈥檛 be making it to family Easter events. He was in severe pain and unable to walk. The Kennedale native immediately called his older brother to let him know what was going on. Despite wanting to avoid the hospital, Hackett鈥檚 dad was admitted to the hospital with cellulitis, a bacterial infection that affects the skin鈥檚 deeper layers, including the dermis and subcutaneous fat. After undergoing debridement surgery to get rid of the dead tissues and cells in his leg, his dad started experiencing complications. Prior to this, he鈥檇 had two kidney transplants, Hackett explained. Three months after the surgery, Hackett鈥檚 worst fear came true. He lost his dad.
Bryce Hackett together with his father
Despite living through this unimaginable tragedy, Hackett was determined to find the good in each day his dad was in the hospital. Most good days back then came in the form of his dad鈥檚 physical therapists.
鈥淐oming to terms with everything was very difficult, but I was determined to find the good in something each day,鈥� Hackett said. 鈥淗is PTs were amazing because he was going through so much and they remained so encouraging through it all.鈥�
From the moment his dad started working with physical therapists, Hackett was picking their brains about inpatient therapy and the ins and outs of the job. A prior injury in 2016 sidelined him from his college baseball career but gave him his first exposure to the field of physical therapy and the difference they could make in a patient鈥檚 recovery journey.
鈥淎fter I had surgery, I had an amazing physical therapist named Lisa,鈥� Hackett said. 鈥淪he really pushed me to want to get better and was such a great role model. I could really see the compassion she did her job with, and I immediately became interested in the field of physical therapy.鈥�
Seeing how the physical therapists encouraged and supported his dad solidified Hackett鈥檚 decision to pursue a career in physical therapy.
鈥淚 made a promise to my dad that I would make a difference by helping other people,鈥� Hackett said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 get to help him in the ways I wanted, so I promised to find a way to help others and impact the community for good.鈥�
He took the first step toward that promise when he enrolled at HSC in July 2024. His childhood best friend, Andrew Flanagan, a second-year student at HSC鈥橲 Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, had previously driven him through the campus and spoke so highly of the school that he knew it would be the perfect fit.
Hackett is now two months into living out his promise to himself and his dad, and he鈥檚 loving every second of it.
鈥淎s I go through all my classes, I always remember the physical therapists who inspired me and helped my dad,鈥� Hackett said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to hopefully have that same impact on someone one day.鈥�
From - Our People by Libby Maness