JASPER, Tenn. — The moment may have appeared to be just a routine play, but for anyone who knows Milan Pemberton — and the remarkable grit she has shown to overcome a formidable physical hurdle — it was easily recognized as anything but ordinary.
Taking off from second base as a teammate lined a base hit, the Marion County junior rounded third and sprinted for home, sliding in safely to score.
The significance of the play registered with Pemberton before she had even stood to dust herself off.
"I noticed right away that I wasn't out of breath," Pemberton said. "I had a play just like that last year and as soon as I got home I just fell out because I was so exhausted."
For much of her life the spirited Pemberton was limited in how much energy she exerted by the restrictions of Pectus excavatum, a condition she was born with which, defined by the Mayo Clinic, causes the person's breastbone and ribs to sink into the chest.
While the sunken breastbone is often noticeable shortly after birth, the severity of the condition typically worsens during the growth spurt of adolescence and can cause problems with the function of the heart and lungs, most commonly causing the person to become more easily fatigued.
Although more than 200,000 cases are reported in the United States each year, corrective surgery is rarely necessary. Pemberton, however, was one of those rare cases which required surgery, and last summer she underwent the two-hour procedure to have a curved steel bar inserted to lift the breastbone and relieve pressure from her heart and lungs.
The bar will remain in place for two years to allow for proper growth of the breastbone.
"She spent a week in the hospital after her surgery and then for about six weeks I would have to move her body around for her to do everything from baths to sitting her up in bed," said Milan's mom Ashley. "Milan has two brothers that she grew up competing with and always tried to be first in everything. That's just her nature.
"Our doctor told us that the worst that could happen would be Milan might pass out if she exerted herself too much, but I was always that mom who would tell her coaches to take her out or let her slow down because I worried constantly."
Pemberton recovered from her June surgery in time to join the basketball team last fall, and the ability to keep up with teammates was quickly noticed, allowing her natural competitive nature to be unrestrained.
"I could tell a difference within a few weeks after the surgery because I was able to take a deep breath for the first time," Pemberton said. "Once we started working out and running for basketball, I could keep up with my teammates without having to sit out or get tired so easily, which was a really good feeling.
"I was a little timid at first, sort of hesitant because basketball is a contact sport. The biggest thing was that mental hurdle. That was a big deal, but once I overcame that I just took the mindset that I wasn't going to let it limit me."
Pectus excavatum is more common in boys and Pemberton's younger brother Zade, a freshman athlete at Marion, was also born with the condition. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery this summer.
So far this spring Pemberton is batting .370 with an on-base percentage of .553 and 11 RBIs. Her most significant contributions might come on defense, where her speed allows her to cover plenty of ground between centerfield and the outfield gaps.
"With the (basketball and softball) seasons overlapping, I saw a shift in the mindset of her teammates once she got out there with us," said Lady Warriors coach Sarah Ziegler. "There's a sense of comfort and added confidence with her out there because we all know she can get to just about any ball that's hit anywhere near her.
"What really stands out about Milan is that she has never used her issue as an excuse. You see her hustling and going all-out and that sets the example for everyone else around her that they can't use any small injury as an excuse. What she's dealt with is a part of her journey, but it hasn't defined her. She has big goals and has proven she will do what it takes to reach them."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.