Humans of Reno: My Boyfriend In Recovery and Rehab Mode

When college student, Luis Morales, broke his leg in an intramural football game, he was stopped from doing the things he loved. He took this obstacle with courage and is determined to get back to his athletic lifestyle. Photos and reporting by Julia McAlonan

Luis Morales showing his x-ray of his broken leg at the gym.

Luis Morales is a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno, and he is also my boyfriend. When he was a freshman at the university, he broke his ankle while participating in an intramural football game for his fraternity. Playing in intramural football with his fraternity was one of his favorite hobbies. Almost four years later, Luis is still working towards strengthening his leg and getting back out on the field.

Luis wrapping his wrists in preparation for deadlifts.

Since Luis was a little kid participating in little league sports, his heart was all about sports. Football has always been his favorite and he was a star player in high school. The injury has put him through hours and hours of physical therapy and rehabilitation. It stopped him from doing many things that he loved for a long time, but he is finally feeling the strength in his leg that he has been working towards.

Luis getting his weights ready to do some deadlifts which help him strengthen his legs.

Luis’s leg injury was only one portion of his ordeal. The bone in his leg snapping led to his LCL tearing. The LCL recovery has been a whole process of its own.

Luis deadlifting 295 pounds at the gym at the University of Nevada, Reno.

There is a metal plate and eight screws holding together his fibula and tibia. He is able to deadlift up to 295 pounds or even more which seemed like an impossible goal when the injury first struck.

Luis showing his scar on his leg where he had surgery that placed a metal plate and eight screws into his fibula and tibia.

Luis is proud of how far he has come and how hard he has worked. He never gave up when he felt discouraged and he works towards complete recovery every day.

Luis grabbing his gym bag after a successful and satisfying workout.

Check out the audio story below on his rehab and recovery process:

Photos, Reporting and Audio Story by Julia McAlonan