Caldwell County’s Karlie Rennison wasn’t sure she would get to play her senior softball season — but it didn’t have anything to do with the coronavirus.
Rennison has been battling an illness for over a year — one that took a long time for physicians to diagnose.
In February 2019, Rennison started to exhibit strange symptons. Visual disturbances and dizziness led to multiple doctor visits.
The problems increased over the summer, with Rennison, who plays travel ball with the Indiana Magic Gold, having seizures and feeling completely drained, sometimes while playing softball — and obviously affecting her play on the field.
More than once, Rennison was struck down during games, with teammates yelling for play to be halted while her coaches and parents could attend to her.
The search for answers took the Rennisons to Vanderbilt, then Duke, and finally to a doctor in Missouri before the culprit was determined.
Rennison has Lyme disease.
The good news is, with the diagnosis and treatment, Rennison is now on the mend.
However, she has yet to be able to practice for her senior season.
Thanks to the coronavirus, the spring sports season for Rennison and thousands of athletes around the country, is on hold.
But the future softball outlook isn’t gloomy for Rennison. She has committed to continuing her playing career at Centre College in Danville. A signing ceremony was scheduled last week, but had to be scrapped because of the KHSAA-imposed dead period due to concerns over the coronavirus.
“We reluctantly let (Centre) coach (Tori) Brown know what was going on with her health not knowing what the reaction would be,” noted Karlie’s mother, Scharla Rennison. “(Brown’s) reaction did not change. She has been very encouraging and supportive throughout this.”
The Rennisons say Karlie contracted the disease from a tick bite. However, Karlie never exhibited the typical signs of a bite or a rash.
The Rennisons want to make people aware that Lyme disease is more common than some may think. And that if left untreated, it can lead to the complications experienced by Karlie.
Lyme disease typically causes a rash, often in a bull’s-eye pattern, and flu-like symptoms. Joint pain and weakness in the limbs also can occur. Without treatment, infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system.
However, most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. So individuals should seek medical attention at the first sign of symptoms.
For now, Rennison is just trying to get healthy again and, like everyone, is hoping to be back on the softball field sooner rather than later.
