Michael Hogue recovers, discovers professional passion

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlin ... ml?ref=029


Injured athlete recovers, discovers professional passion
For this UT athlete, an injury almost ended his dreams of being a championship pole vaulter. But the same injury changed his perspective on life and gave him a new dream.
Reporter: Allison Kropff
Email Address: allison.kropff@wvlt-tv.com

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Injuries often mean the end of an athletic career, but it doesn't have to mean the end of a professional career.

For one UT pole vaulter, a major surgery not only left him with questions about his future in sports, but answers to a life after graduation.


This is Michael Hogue pole vaulting at the 2008 SEC Indoor Track Championships.

Just two years earlier, after a track meet, something happened to his arm that almost ended his championship aspirations.

"Woke up the next day, and it was swollen and light blue," says Hogue.

Doctors told him he had Venous Thoracic Outlet syndrome - blood clots caused by a chronic injury.

"The goals are to get rid of the clot, don't let the clot go somewhere you don't want it to and try to salvage the vein," says Hogue's doctor, David Cassada.

Michael had to have major surgery to remove a rib, to be able to continue his pole vaulting career.

"I hadn't done everything I wanted to do yet."

The surgery was a success, and two months later, he won the SEC Championships.

"He has been a conditioned athlete, he has a superior attitude and had what it took to get through a major challenge like this," says Cassada.

"It was a great end of the story, it was a lot of fun. It was fun to continue to be on the team and continue doing what I love," says Hogue.

But the story wasn't over yet.

On the same floor where doctors saved his life, he's now saving others.

"If I can make somebody's tough time better for them, it's worth it."

His experience inspired him to become a nurse.

"You realize how fragile life is and how much you appreciate God and religion and how much other people can mean to you."

Michael still pole vaults, but for fun.

He holds a special place in sports history. He is only the second athlete in sec history, and first since 1976, to win three consecutive indoor conference pole vault crowns.

[vault3rb0y]

GREAT story.... and to recover to win again is truly inspiring. I wish him the best of luck in the medical field!