Two Pickaway-Ross seniors battle injuries to return to the classroom

CHILLICOTHE — Getting an education is important and being in a classroom or lab can provide invaluable opportunities, something two Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology students know all too well which is why they both worked to get back to school quickly after injuries resulted in them needing surgeries during the school year.

Jenna Schobelock, an Adena student, went to Pickaway-Ross to be a part of its Health Services and Medical Assisting program to help her with her goal of becoming a labor and delivery nurse, something she has wanted to do since she was young and her mother had her younger siblings.

Growing up Schobelock has always dealt with her left knee popping in and out of the socket after she had a bad fall in fourth grade. She has always dealt with the problem as doctors told her the surgery might not help and that recovery would take a long time. It wasn't until she fell again before her senior year that she knew she needed to get her knee fixed as it posed a risk to not only her but the patients she wanted to help in her future.

"I need to get this fixed," Schobelock remembers telling her mom.

While getting a surgeon's opinion Schobelock found out that both of her knees were badly injured but the left knee needed fixed immediately as it had little to no stability and overstretched tendons and ligaments. During surgery, the inside of her left knee had to receive new ligaments and tendons from a cadaver to be repaired.

After surgery, she faced the long road to recovery that involved not being able to put any weight on her leg for a period of time and eventually physical therapy. However, Schobelock said it was all worth it as she now feels much more confident in her abilities to help others.

"I can definitely tell a difference," said Schobelock. "It makes me feel a lot better."

Schobelock's original plan was to be a part of the Pickaway-Ross LPN program during her senior year but the surgery and recovery would put her behind in the class. Still, with the support of her teachers, she took the test to get into the program and passed. It wasn't until learning when clinicals started that Schobelock would have to change her plans due to her not being able to move much at that time.

Working again with the school and her teachers she figured out a way to join the MA class. Schobelock's surgery was on a Tuesday and she was back to school the next Monday to get back to work so she would not be far behind. She said her teachers were great and accommodating of the fact that she could not stand for some activities and once she could they worked with her to make sure she was on track in the class.

"It's not going to take everything away from me," said Schobelock of her knee. "I can still do what I want to do."

With her knee getting stronger every day Schobelock is excited to go on to attend the Mount Carmel College of Nursing to get her BSN and hopefully one day help mothers and babies in the delivery room.

Coen Butler, a student in the Diesel and Heavy Truck program, faced a similar issue as he tore both of his shoulders while in high school.

Butler's home district is Chillicothe City Schools where he played baseball and football. It was during a football exercise that he tore his left shoulder. He remembers feeling it happen and knowing that something was wrong.

This injury and the following surgery would put him out of school for several months. Butler said he is lucky that he was already a little ahead in school so he did not miss much being out and the stuff he did miss he was able to catch up on thanks to the help of his friends who would regularly bring him his work.

He was able to recover in time to return to the field for football, however, he would soon get injured again this time in his right shoulder during a tackle. He has yet to get the injury fixed and both shoulders can cause issues in his chosen field as it takes a lot of shoulder strength to lift things while under a truck.

Butler said he has recently given his life to the Lord and that has helped him greatly during the struggles he has faced in recent years.

"My faith for sure has helped me in life," said Butler.

Through Pickaway-Ross and future higher education Butler is working to obtain knowledge of diesel and large trucks so that he can work on them as a career, even possibly opening up his own business in the future. He said he was inspired to go into this field by his grandfather and working on old cars. He loves being able to see something go from broken to working, knowing that he helped make it run.

"It is a hard task but once you learn it it's pretty fun," said Butler.

Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology seniors will be graduating on May 16.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Pickaway-Ross seniors battle through surgeries to get back to school