Mom gave you
her best - now
she deserves
the best!

Care for
Everyone

Call Jeanne Atkinson and Colleen McDonald for
the best home care in Oakland County!

Discreet, light housekeeping, grocery shopping,
meal preparation, running errands, transportation,
companionship and personal care.

Call Today! 248.919.1244

synergyhomecare.com/oaklandcounty

The care of your varicose veins and other vascular
conditions should not be left to chance.

Trust the only Board Certified Vascular Surgeon in the Birmingham/Bloomfield
area to guide you through all your options.
We offer the most advanced treatment in our expansive, state-of-the-art office.

Come see the difference that 18 years of experience makes and the
personalized attention that we can deliver.

Diego A. Hernandez, MD, FACS
Natalie Marcus, NP

43700 Woodward Avenue – Suite 208
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
248-481-2100

sports

Two
Knee
Surgeries
Later, She’s
Still Playing
Soccer

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

S

occer and family have
playing it,” she said. “No matter how
always been big parts of Allie
many surgeries I have, I’ll always
Brodsky’s life.
find my way back to soc-
ABOVE: Allie Brodsky, cer.”
She played soccer for
a two-year captain of
four years at Birmingham
Fighting her way back to
the
Kalamazoo College health twice to play soccer
Marian High School (2010-
women’s soccer
2013), coached by her
again wasn’t easy. Here’s
team,
is greeted by
father, Barry Brodsky. Allie
her advice for others facing
teammates.
was a team captain, All-
the same challenge:
State defender, and state
“You can’t be afraid to
champion with the Mustangs in
lean on the people around you. They
2010 and 2012.
want you to be happy,” she said.
Then she was off to Kalamazoo
“You have to take things one day at
College to play soccer, following
a time, one adversity at a time. You’ll
in the footsteps of her older sister,
have good days and bad days.”
Kari.
After graduating from Kalamazoo
Wearing No. 12, like Kari did,
with a degree in biology, she now
Allie’s four years with the Hornets
works at the Detroit Medical
(2013-2016) had their ups and
Center near Downtown Detroit as a
downs.
research assistant in the emergency
A defender, Allie was an All-
room.
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic
“In the research department, we
Conference selection in her sopho-
look for ways to make treatment
more and junior years, served as
better for people with diseases like
team captain as a junior and senior,
high blood pressure and diabetes, so
and led Kalamazoo to the regular-
they don’t have to come to our ER
season MIAA title (its first since
as often,” she said. “We want their
1999) as a senior and MIAA tourna-
treatment to be outpatient, not as
ment appearances three straight
an admitted patient.”
years.
She loves the work, she says, and
On the flip side, Allie underwent
has a goal of being accepted into
ACL surgeries on her right knee that medical school and beginning her
put a crimp in her freshman and
studies in fall 2019.
senior seasons. She was injured in
Allie’s two older sisters are profes-
mid-September games both years.
sionals. Rachel is an accountant in
Despite those two surgeries, Allie’s Colorado and Kari is an endodontist
soccer playing days aren’t over.
in the Detroit area.
Now age 22, she’s on the North
Rachel and Kari both went to
Oakland Soccer Company team
Birmingham Groves High School
that plays in the Michigan Premier
and played soccer there.
Soccer League’s women’s divi-
When it came time for her to go
sion after playing in a coed soccer
to high school, Allie said, her par-
league this winter at Oakland Yard
ents Barry and Jane Brodsky gave
Athletics in Waterford Township.
her the option to attend Marian
“I love soccer. I can’t imagine not
and she made that choice partially
because of the opportunity to play
soccer for her father, who is in his
17th season as coach this spring.
“I loved my time at Marian,” she
said about the private Catholic
school.
She selected Kalamazoo for col-
lege because of its strong science
programs, she said, and because
family and friends could watch her
play without having to dri ve too
far. •

Kalamazoo College defender Allie Brodsky
(left) challenges an opponent.

34

May 10 • 2018

jn

Send news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.