Through family medical issues and personal athletic injuries, Skyler Triplett never got knocked down her senior year.
Skyler will graduate from St. Joseph Catholic School this spring. Her story is one of resilience and keeping the faith that has given inspiration to both her classmates and teachers.
“I admire Skyler’s resilience and drive,” said Nikki Thompson, Skyler’s 10th grade English teacher. “There isn’t one thing you can throw at her that will deter her from her goals. She is always striving to do better and be better regardless of circumstance. She is the epitome of Shakespeare’s quote, Though she be but little, she is fierce!’”
Skyler’s first battle with adversity came on Oct. 24 last year when, while at cheerleading practice, she suffered a torn meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Skyler’s injury forced her to miss her senior basketball season and all of her spring sports season.
Then, a month later, Skyler received even worse news when her mother, Kimberly, called one night and said she had passed out, fallen at work and was in the hospital. Skyler went to bed but was woken up by a 5 a.m. phone call from a doctor in Jackson who told her he was about to perform brain surgery on her mother.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center doctor told Skyler her mother was suffering from a subdural hematoma, a condition caused by a head injury strong enough to burst blood vessels in the brain. Later that day, Skyler received news the surgery was successful but her mother still had a long road to recovery.
Skyler’s mother remained in the hospital for a month and five days before she was able to come home and be with her family, which includes Skyler’s 11-year-old sister, Madison. The recovery has been slow, Skyler said. Her mother, who was working as a respiratory therapist, still has trouble walking and talking at times, and she still cannot drive.
“She is talking now, and we see it as a miracle!” Skyler said. “My mother is now telling me how proud she is of me. She tells me to always give 100 percent and to always trust in God.”
Skyler thanks her friends and teachers at St. Joseph for helping her get through such a tough year. She said she was especially thankful for the school for holding a pancake breakfast fundraiser to help her family pay medical bills.
“Even though I have been through a lot, I still always want to try and help people,” she said. “I like to put a smile on people’s faces, no matter what. Even if I am having a bad day, I don’t want to ruin the day of someone who is having a good day.”
Skyler’s classmates and teachers, meanwhile, say she is a true inspiration.
“Skyler’s that student that I can count on for just about anything,” Thompson said. “If I need to get a message out to students quickly, she’s my go to girl. If I need a last minute volunteer for the school, she’s right there willing to help. If I need a smile, she’s always got one to share. There isn’t just one thing about this young lady that doesn’t just ooze goodness. To know her is to love her, really.”
Skyler is planning on attending Mississippi State University next year, where she will study to become a physical therapist one day.
Like her fellow classmates, Skyler said she has been sad that her senior year was cut short because of the coronavirus crisis.
“I really wanted to go to prom and to have all those final experiences with my friends,” Skyler said. “But, I know, especially with what I have been through this year, that you have to keep moving forward and you have to keep being thankful for all the blessings that God has given you.”
