Rising Multi-Sport Athlete Finds Her Stride After Successful Rehabilitation

Molly Cornwell of St. Clair Shores discovered her love for soccer at just 6 years old. Now a junior at Lakeview High School, she has developed into a standout athlete. After transitioning to travel soccer in fourth grade, her dedication paid off—earning her a reputation as one of her club team’s top goal scorers and securing a varsity letter as a freshman.

Her athletic success didn’t stop on the soccer field. During her sophomore year, Molly expanded her horizons, joining the St. Clair Shores Lakers Unified Girls Hockey Team alongside her sister, Aubrey. The transition proved seamless. Molly led the team in total points and scored the game-winning goal in the semifinal, propelling the team to its first-ever district championship appearance, where they finished as finalists.

“I love hockey because it is physical, fast-paced, and fun,” says Molly. “I also thrive on the competitive nature of soccer and enjoy high-stakes games.”

Beyond her success in athletics, Molly has also excelled in the classroom, earning recognition on the Macomb Area Conference All-Academic Team for her achievements in both academics and sports. Outside of competition, she enjoys baking and experimenting with new recipes, and works part time at a local ice cream shop.

A sudden setback on the field

In November 2025, Molly’s momentum came to an abrupt halt. During a college showcase soccer tournament, she sustained a significant right ankle injury.

“The injury occurred when an opposing defender slide-tackled her during a breakaway opportunity,” says her mom, Brigitte, an administrative coordinator at Henry Ford St. John Hospital.

The injury sidelined Molly during a critical stretch of her season. She was unable to play from November through the second week of March, forcing her to miss indoor competition, major tournaments in St. Louis and Orlando, and important soccer tryouts.

Choosing the right specialist

After an MRI revealed five separate injuries, Molly and her family sought expert guidance. They put their trust in Nicole M. Brouyette, DPM, a Henry Ford Health specialist in foot and ankle surgery at Henry Ford Medical Center-Grosse Pointe who previously worked with Brigitte, to evaluate what would come next.

“We chose Dr. Brouyette because she is both an athlete and a highly respected physician within Henry Ford Health, as well as a mother of female athletes, which gave us great confidence in her care and perspective,” Brigitte explains.

Dr. Brouyette notes that Molly injured the key stabilizing ligaments on both the outside and higher portion of her ankle. She prioritized conservative treatment first.

“With a structured rehabilitation program, many of these injuries can heal well without surgery. If those efforts are exhausted, surgical reconstruction is always an option, but our goal is to restore strength, stability, and function and return them safely in the game," said Dr. Brouyette.

With Molly’s long-term athletic future in mind, Dr. Brouyette developed a comprehensive, non-surgical treatment plan focused on rehabilitation and recovery.

A targeted rehabilitation plan

Following Dr. Brouyette’s recommendation, Molly began an extensive rehabilitation program with Mark Karam, a physical therapist at the William Clay Ford Center for Athletic Medicine.

“Having Mark as part of her care team made a tremendous difference,” says Dr. Brouyette. “He was deeply invested in her recovery, and together we took a true team-based, multidisciplinary approach. That level of communication and collaboration is what sets patients up for success, and it’s exactly the kind of excellence we strive to provide at Henry Ford Health.”

Mark explains Molly began physical therapy in January with the goal of returning to soccer by early to mid-March.

“Early rehabilitation focused on restoring ankle mobility, strengthening the ankle, knee, and hip, improving single-leg stability, and incorporating bike intervals for conditioning,” he says. “As she progressed, we introduced Alter-G treadmill running to rebuild endurance while reducing stress on the ankle. Once the ankle tolerated increased loading, we progressed to higher-impact, sport-specific exercises to prepare Molly for the demands of soccer.”

With more than 12 weeks of dedicated rehabilitation, Molly restored the strength, stability, and confidence required for a safe return to soccer. Brigitte says that despite the severity of her injury, Molly was able to continue playing hockey during her recovery. The structure and support of her skates provided the ankle stability she needed to safely remain on the ice.

“We often joked that if soccer cleats were designed like hockey skates, she would have been able to keep playing,” she says.

Back to the game and ready for competition

Through months of disciplined rehabilitation and unwavering determination, Molly made a full recovery. Her hard work paid off when Dr. Brouyette cleared her to return to soccer just in time for the upcoming season.

"My focus is always on treating the athlete, not just every incidental finding on an MRI,” says Dr. Brouyette.

She emphasizes that every injury is unique, and without careful monitoring, returning too soon can set athletes up for reinjury.

“By ensuring Molly regained strength, stability, and passing my final physical exam, I was able to safely clear her to return to play. My goal is always to get athletes back to their maximum, game-ready potential while minimizing future risk."

A team effort in recovery

Reflecting on the journey, Molly and her family have deep gratitude for the impact of the care team on her recovery-both physically and mentally.

“Dr. Brouyette and Mark were an incredible support team throughout my recovery,” emphasizes Molly. “They played a vital role not only in my physical healing but also in rebuilding my confidence to return to the field. They didn’t just help me recover physically, they helped me trust my body again and encouraged me to listen to it moving forward.”