Identical twins Jaxon and Trenton suffered the same ACL injury within months of each other.
Whether they're playing football, soccer or basketball, sports have been a constant in their lives. They are each other's biggest supporters and fiercest competitors, never passing up an opportunity for a quick shooting contest or pickup game.
What they never expected to share was the same sports injury.
Today, both brothers are back on the path to the sports that they love thanks to the care they received from Shriners Children’s Spokane’s sports medicine team.
The family's journey began over two years ago during a summer basketball practice as the brothers prepared for Hoopfest, the world's largest 3-on-3 outdoor basketball tournament, held in Spokane.
About an hour into practice, their mother, Ashley, received a call from Jaxon – Trenton had hyperextended his knee. "When I arrived, his knee was huge," she said. "Immediately I knew something was wrong."
Trenton was referred to sports medicine physician Thomas Halvorson, M.D., at Shriners Children's Spokane. After evaluating the injury, Dr. Halvorson discovered that Trenton had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and torn his MCL and meniscus.
The team quickly developed a treatment plan. Trenton began rehabilitation with physical therapist Lauren Drury, PT, DPT, BSPTS Advanced Certified, the very next day to rebuild strength and prepare for surgery. He had a procedure in September 2024 and an ACL reconstruction surgery in February 2025.
Trenton had only two months of physical therapy left when the family experienced yet another setback.
On the first day of the new school year, Jaxon was at football practice when Ashley received a call from their school's athletic trainer. "Immediately, my heart sank," she said. “The athletic trainer said Jaxon took a hit and felt a pop in his knee.”
After evaluating Jaxon's injury, Dr. Halvorson ordered an MRI that revealed the same diagnosis his brother had received. Jaxon began his rehabilitation journey with another Shriners Children's sports medicine trained physical therapist, Carey Hintze, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT, CSCS, before undergoing a hamstring graft procedure at the end of October.
It's amazing watching your kids become somebody you look up to and admire.
For those two months, the brothers attended rehabilitation together. Through countless appointments and exercises, they leaned on each other as a pillar of support.
"I remember I was doing an exercise to straighten my leg while he was on the BioDex," Trenton said. "I’d stop what I was doing to support Jaxon during his exercise."
Lauren saw that brotherly encouragement firsthand. "Trenton was always pushing him," she said. "'Aw, come on, you can do better than that,' he'd tell Jaxon."
Throughout Jaxon's recovery, Trenton served as both a brother and a mentor, helping him navigate the challenges he had already experienced himself.
Now nearing the end of his recovery journey, Jaxon has gained a new appreciation for the activities he once took for granted.
"Now that I'm getting back into running and weightlifting, it makes me appreciate it more," Jaxon said. "Before my injury, I would complain about not wanting to lift weights. During therapy, that's all I could think about. And now I'm here, able to do those things again. I have to be grateful for that."
For Trenton, the experience showed him to believe in himself and trust his resilience.
"Overcoming this injury definitely helped me realize I can push through things I didn't think I could," he said.
That perseverance recently awarded both Trenton and Jaxon the recognition of Shriners Children's Spokane's Athlete of the Month program. Every month, sports medicine staff celebrate one standout athlete who has demonstrated exceptional dedication throughout their journey.
Trenton won Athlete of the Month in January, and Jaxon won in June. For the twins, the recognition was a powerful reminder of how far they had come.
"It made me super proud of myself," Trenton said. "It helped me feel like all the hard work was worth it. I pushed hard to get back."
Jaxon said the recognition helped him appreciate his own accomplishments.
"It's hard for me to be proud of myself because I always feel like I can do more," he said. "Being recognized by people outside of my friends and family helped me feel proud of the journey I've been on."
For Ashley, one of the most rewarding parts of the experience has been watching her children overcome the obstacles before them.
"It's amazing watching your kids become somebody you look up to and admire," Ashley said. "It hasn't been an easy road for them, but watching them grow stronger and become who they are has been inspiring."
