06/01/2026
“The team I had was definitely amazing. I wouldn’t wish for anyone else to have done my surgery and I know I can trust what they did.”
When student athlete Sophia Varn injured her hand in a state quarterfinal basketball game, she tried to tough it out and play through the pain. But after a reinjury a few months later, it was time to have surgery. Luckily, she had the OrthoNebraska team behind her to provide expert care and root her on through the whole process.
Hear more from Sophia and her dad about their experience throughout the recovery process and how Sophia will be able to return to the sports she loves.
Video transcript
Sophia: I’m Sophia Varn. I play basketball and volleyball and that pretty much consumes about my whole life.
Mr. Varn: Was a a state quarterfinal game in March. Sophia was on a weak side of the defense. I believe it was. The girl just swam across her, knocking her hand down and hit her on the top part of her hand, dislocating her thumb at about a 45° angle. So, it was about pointing straight back to her.
Sophia: I continued to play for like three months and then I reinjured it and then they were like, “Okay, you need surgery.”
It obviously hurt, but I think it was more the mental side of it that was worse. As like a super active person, it’s really hard for me to just sit and do nothing.
Mr. Varn: You never want to see your children get hurt. Um, so it was hard to watch, first of all knowing she was excelling at that time and this kind of just stopped her dead in her tracks and and mentally set her back a little bit.
She’s a strong, strong young lady and she’s recovered unbelievable about the whole thing.
Sophia: The volleyball season starts 3 days after I’m supposed to be cleared.
I’m super excited. Obviously, the team I had was definitely amazing and I wouldn’t wish for anyone else to have done my surgery and I know I can trust what they did.
Mr. Varn: It was just a phenomenal experience. The sky’s is the limit for her and now she never has to worry about her thumb or her hand, ever again.
