FOREST LAKE, Minn. — "We'll never have another senior night watching our favorite setter," said Karen Brandl.
What a journey to senior night for Forest Lake senior volleyball player Katie Brandl.
"Breathtaking. Like, it went by so fast," said Katie Brandl.
A breathtaking moment, especially when you consider her journey from the start.
"Being on varsity, that was something I never expected," said Katie.
Katie has played on the Rangers varsity volleyball squad for the last four seasons, even more impressive when you consider she was born with a congenital heart disease.
"She was one day of age when she had her first surgery. Katie's defect was a bicuspid aortic valve," said Katie's mom, Karen.
Just over four years ago, in September of 2019, Katie had open heart surgery at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital. It's a complex operation called the Ross procedure.
"I had the big surgery when I was 13. It was scary, definitely scary," said Katie.
"After the surgery was tough," said Katie's dad, Bill.
"Probably the worst day of our lives. Seeing her in so much pain. The pain was the worst part," said Karen.
Katie was able to recover from the complex procedure and just six weeks later, she was back on the volleyball court.
"We are beyond grateful for the team down at the U. For everybody that was down there, from day one," said Karen.
Since her open heart surgery, Katie has shined for the Rangers. The heartbeat of the team has played four seasons of varsity and is approaching 3,000 assists for her career, which would be the most in Forest Lake volleyball program history.
"Very proud. Unbelievably proud. More than she knows. She's a good kid — very, very proud parents," said Karen.
The surgery, and doubt that came with a daunting comeback to the floor, has given Katie perspective during a senior season that she's cherished.
"Very grateful. Being able to be on that court, and being able to just do what I do and what I love to do, I'm just very grateful," said Katie.
Forest Lake will play Anoka in a sectional championship on Thursday night for a berth to next week's state volleyball championships at the Xcel Energy Center.
She continues to have frequent echocardiogram checkups and hopes to continue playing volleyball in college.
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