Not Letting A Medical Diagnosis Determine My Future | Vinnie Panico

Luke: 0:11

Today's episode is going to be a little unique and tell the story of Vinny Panico, who in 2017 suffered a catastrophic knee injury during a game his junior football season. I wanna have vi on so you could hear his amazing story, but also so we all could be reminded about the power of. And perseverance when faced with great adversity, "I have no doubt you're going to walk away inspired and reminded how important it is for all of us to believe, support and motivate those who we lead. So Vinny, it's, it's an honor to have yon. Obviously our relationship goes back many years as "I got to coach you during that difficult moment in your life. And "I wanna start with. the night that it happened. I'm sure you remember it vividly. So take us back to that infamous night of the injury and what you remember of the play and what happened as the athletic trainer ran out and "I was out there with you and where they're talking to you.

Vinnie: 1:12

Yeah. So first off, thank you so much for, for having me on the show today. I'm, uh, super excited to be on. I've heard a lot about it. Uh, listened in on it a bunch of times, so "I, yeah, really excited first off. But, um, yeah, so "I "I, remember the night like it was yesterday? It was, um, week four versus Zion Benton, at home, on our home field and "I had my whole family in the crowds. "I had one of my dad's old friends from high school or. coming in to watch me and it was maybe the, the fourth series of the game, I Playing Defense, the defensive. and "I. "I was having a good season thus far and was super excited about it. Um, was my first time playing defense was my junior year transitioning from offense, in like my, underclassmen years and yeah, "I "I. Remember "I was, um, face, "I was playing right defensive end, and "I was facing their left tackle "I. "I hit a spin move and then, um, made it kind of around their, their left tackle. And then sort of as I'm planting to make the sack, the quarterback was real shifty. We knew he was shifty on film. And as I'm planting to make the sack, I see a body coming in and "I know it's from my team "I. See the, blue jersey coming in, "I remember it, and like a, like a bullet coming in towards my. And "I was perfectly planted on the ground. And um, next thing "I know, I'm on the ground and I'm just praying to God. I'm like, I. Hope I'm okay. Because it looked like he got me perfectly and "I didn't feel anything. and "I sort of "I hit the ground. "I had my eyes closed. And as I'm getting back up, "I look down at my leg and "I could, "I, could see the bottom of my foot. like upright. I'm like taking a knee with my right leg is on the ground. And then my "I kind of bring my left leg up and the bottom half of my leg, that tio, which is pointed in the opposite direction, just like right at the joint, which is like perfectly 90 degrees. And "I seen my kneecaps all the way to the right side of my leg. And, and next thing "I know, I'm not even focused on the injury. "I see the quarterback sprinting down field and the first thing "I felt was, damn, we didn't get 'em. Um, and then "I start thinking in my head.

Luke: 3:07

you should have been thinking

Vinnie: 3:08

Yeah, exactly. "I was like, damn, we didn't get 'em. And then in my head I'm like, wow, I have a massive problem here. And I'm thinking like, "I, my, my poor Nona, my poor little Nona is gonna be screaming in the crowd, um, when she sees her grandson looking like this. And my mother is gonna be screaming in the crowd crying, seeing me like that. And "I was like, "I can't let anyone see me like this. And as he's running on the field, "I like my perfect opportunity to put it back into place without anyone knowing, and kind of act like it didn't happen. So "I, "I reach with both hands to my Kneecap, right "I and "I was on like the side of my leg. It was completely dislocated and "I ripped my kneecap over first, and then "I kind of threw a few upper cuts at my tibia to kinda get my legs straightened out. And then I'm thinking "I "I had no clue about anatomy. "I wanted to be, you know, like a law guy or business guy. So "I had no clue what was going on. I'm like, oh, it's like a shoulder joint. "I just popped it back into place. I'm completely okay. And "I "I, "I had heard "I, you know, "I know Joey was on your podcast, Stutzman "I know he'd pop his shoulder all the time. I'm like, I'll be back in, gimme two plays and I'll be right back in. And I'm like, then that'll never, the quarterback will never get that far down the field again. and as "I stand. I've never felt a pain like that in my life and such a weird feeling. It felt loose my joint and it crunches right back down 90 degrees again. And I'm like, wow, this is a serious problem. Uh, so once again, "I gotta punch it back again and "I get it straight. And then I'm laying, kind of laying on the ground like on one Misa and I'm calling the trainers over, like both trainers to come get me. And, um, only one of 'em comes out cuz they just see me down. It's probably a cramp, you know, "I, they, they're probably assuming no one really saw what happened cuz the, such a big play was made by the, by Zion. And, um, as they're kind of ones getting me and he is trying to get me up, I'm like, um, Andrew, the, the trainer. I'm like, I'm like, drew, it's bad. Like, this is really bad. He's like, oh, come on, let's do it. And "I was like, "I, "I need more than one person. Cuz every movement "I was making, trying to hobble "I, couldn't put weight on it. And just that, that movement, that shaky. was, um, like killing me. And then the other trainer came out and "I had to, they had to kind of hoist me up. "I had to get 'em both around the neck and they were, taking me off the, off the field. And "I was, you know, on the sideline. I'm trying to walk on it, test it out and stuff, and, um, nothing was working.

Luke: 5:14

So, yeah, "I, remember you coming off the field with the trainers, and I'll tell you as, as a head coach and "I have a lot of listeners who are head coaches, injuries are always tough because you're so concerned about the. But you don't want to get the parents nervous cuz you know they're in the stands. And "I feel like when "I go out there, sometimes "I almost add to the anxiety of parents. So "I, remember you laying there and you're not a guy that usually lays on the ground and "I was like, ah, you know, again, the bait. Like, do "I go out there and "I know how, what a tight-knit family you have. I'm like, "I don't wanna get his parents nervous. And "I, remember you coming off being carried by the trainers as you mention. and you have your arms around him. "I "I vividly remember? And "I locked eyes with Andrew, our trainer, and he shook his head no, to me, which was cold. Like this is bad. Okay? So now you have to go through and kind of face the rest of your team, and you kind of have to lie. "I be like, all right guys, Vinny's all good. No worries. We're gonna evaluate him. So you get back in the game. Meanwhile, all the coaches in the headsets are like, holy crap. this is serious, And. Everyone's thoughts go to, you and your, and your wellbeing. So it, it was definitely a, a crazy time, but even at that moment, we didn't know how severe it was. Okay. So you have to fill in some gaps for me because I do know you at the advice of our trainer. You ended up going to the er. Is that.

Vinnie: 6:46

Yeah, no. So "I actually, so what didn't "I Yeah. Like you said, this is my first time getting injured. So "I refused to believe anything was seriously wrong with me. and like my, my dazed in confused mind. And, um, when "I went in at halftime, like he was kind of checking out my knee, our trainer, and he's like, it's really bad. He's like, it's so bad. "I can't actually tell what's wrong with. He's like, it just seems like everything is wrong with it. And I'm like, there's no way. Maybe "I got a little like tear or something. "I think it just, maybe my meniscus is a little messed up. And "I was like, you know what? I'm just gonna go home for the night. And um, "I went home and "I was thinking like, I'll wake up and I'll be a lot better. And that was the worst night of my entire life with pain. "I, couldn't make it up the stairs. "I couldn't get any of my clothes off. "I was in all my equipment, basically, in my living room, sitting on the couch. "I couldn't even make it upstairs. and "I remember just being there. and "I couldn't even turn. "I couldn't get to the remote, and George Lopez was just playing nonstop on the tv. It was ridiculous, all night. So "I, there was no sleeping either way. And, um, "I make it to the doctor's office in the morning and "I wait there for an hour, um, trying to get an appointment with. And once "I get in, um, he's as white as a ghost. Uh, he can't even believe, uh, sort of what's going on, and he rushes me into his office after he sees my knee in the waiting room. and starts saying like, why didn't you come last night? Like, where were you? You should have been in the er. he's like, "I, think you might have ruptured the artery behind your leg. He's like, you could be bleeding out internally. He's like, you could die from this. He's like, "I don't mean to like scare you. "I just mean to create a sense of urgency for you. and he had thought, so is that the artery, um, was the first problem and then he was checking like, uh, we might have to get you into emergency surgery as well. He said the compartments in my like, uh, my calf, could have collapsed "I. Guess there's four compartment. in there. And he, checked those with like a, a ginormous needle to check "I guess like the pressure or something within the compartments. And "I was good to go there. And then it was a matter of getting me to the ER as soon as possible to make sure my, that artery wasn't ruptured and that "I wasn't bleeding out cuz my leg literally turned into a balloon. "I know you saw it, even after the fact. It was, it was absolutely ginormous. There was no definition of. went there. My CAT scan was, um, actually okay. "I never ruptured the artery. And then once "I got the "I, had to wait a few days. Um, the "I came back. "I tore my acl, my M C L, my L C, and my pcl. All four of the, all four of the ligaments in the knee, "I tore my meniscus. "I tore the bottom of my. and "I broke my tibia of the actual bone that, like the, the shin bone, so to speak, right at the top, so it like would crunch like that. And, um, right at the top it was just, crunched completely. So it was, it was skeletal rather than vascular. but, yeah, so "I hit, "I hit

Luke: 9:21

And let, let's go. Let's, uh, I'm sorry to interrupt you. Let's go back a second before we move ahead. I, do remember the next day, and again, usually. When you have these injuries happen, the next day you touch base with the trainer and he or she kind of gives you a rundown of everything that happened the previous night. So of course we talked about you and "I. Remember Andrew emphatically being like "I really think. He should have gone to the doctor. All right. And "I know we have a team doctor on our sidelines and "I don't, "I don't even know what the team doctor's conversations, what, what your parents were. But "I do know that given your personality, and this is probably ironically also what helped you through this moment, is you're kind of stubborn and you're a tough guy and you didn't wanna go to the doctor. And that's what our trainer was filling me in on on Saturday. And he heard from your parents as to what your, your diagnosis was. And "I, just remember, Andrew saying he could lose his leg over this. "I was like, oh, my "I mean, it was just, you know, you you're thinking like, okay, maybe it's uh, a dislocated knee "I. Wonder if he torn any tendons. Will he be back to season? "I mean? That's kind of what, what you're thinking. So when you heard that moment, "I was like, holy. "I "I didn't even know what all the coaches were. Just like, holy cow. You know? It's just really hard thing to, to digest. So that's us and we're on the outside. "I, want to get inside your head. So when you heard the official word and all the damage, "I mean, literally, your everything around your knee was devastated. Right? what was going through your head at that moment, that Saturday afternoon or whenever that exact moment was? You heard all that damage that really.

Vinnie: 11:00

So when "I, when "I heard that "I was like, um, "I, you know, "I, "I started to honestly believe it a little bit like when "I woke up the next hour, "I started thinking like, okay, the, the macho thing and all the adrenaline's done. I told myself, "I said like, there is something "I think that is seriously wrong with me. at this point for like the size of my leg. And you know, "I never been like "I said, "I had never been injured before. So, you know, you refuse to believe it for a while. And then like once you get slapped with that pain, um, you start thinking like maybe something could be, could be really wrong. And then when "I, when "I have a orthopedic surgeon who's, who's one of the best in the business, "I mean like for dozens and dozens of years he's been practicing. He tells me this is the. knee related injury he's ever seen in his, you know, some odd years of working. You start thinking like, uh, wow. you know, something seriously happened here and, you know, the, the act is over and "I gotta take action on this now and stop trying to, you know, walk on it and act like everything's okay. Um, "I really gotta get the business here and figure this all out.

Luke: 11:55

and I'm sure being a. In high school, you probably pretty quickly thought about the future and will "I get to play my senior year because that's such a special time for any athlete of any sport. I'm sure your thoughts went there and "I bet knowing your parents, they probably thought about that as well. Obviously your wellbeing came first in her heads, but you know, there was that white elephant in the room and that was senior. What was the doctor's feedback about your future and playing football again?

Vinnie: 12:26

Uh, the first thing that came outta my mouth wasn't even senior year. "I said, I think we're gonna win the state championships. to my surgeon, as soon as he started telling me, you tore this, this, and that, "I said, when can "I get back this year and will "I make it to that state game? Cause "I know we have the talent to do it. And he said, um, let's focus on step A here. He said you might not even walk again. Um, he's like, you might even lose your leg. so he said, um, let's be careful here and think about your health first because football is most likely over for you.

Luke: 12:54

And what was going through your head mentally when you heard that news?

Vinnie: 13:00

yeah. And "I, it was hard and he tried putting it in the best way possible, like trying to be nice about it. Um, "I refused to believe it though. I said, like, "I, I'm, I'm super healthy. I'm still young. And "I have that kind of, that fire and that drive, especially as a junior, um, you know, like you have a lot to prove for yourself, especially going on to play. And like "I know football means the world to our little town in Lake Zurich. Um, so "I was like, "I got something to prove and, you know, I'm not gonna let a medical diagnosis, um, especially this soon. like, determine my future. And you know, what "I want to do with my life and "I think it's, you know, up in my hands, um, rather than anyone else's. You know what I'm gonna do next with this? Especially so early on, "I said a lot of things can change and there's always hope. "I never lost hope.

Luke: 13:40

you kind of beat me to my next question, cuz "I, "I kind of wanna get into that. you hear this news and "I know, you said you refused to believe it, but there had to be some of you that, that did believe it. I'm sure there was a larger chunk of your parents that believed it because again, you want to protect your kids was the moment that you really truly started to believe and made the decision? "I am going to play football my senior season cuz "I "I Find it hard. "I. "I. I'm not saying impossible, but "I find it hard to believe was at that moment, right? when was it, when you're like that because "I do think it was a moment, like something switched in you and just said, I'm proving everybody wrong and "I am going to play football in my senior season.

Vinnie: 14:21

Um, yeah, "I, it certainly was creeping in bad. "I wasn't fully committed to the idea. and so when he, when he was telling me that, and "I was there, and, um, when "I before testing, "I was certainly not committed to it. "I thought, I'm gonna lose my leg. And then after the testing, you start getting some hope. You're like, okay, my artery's not ruptured. At least, I don't have like the, the compartment issues going on in my calf. and I'm like, yeah, there "I still like had that mentality like, I'm gonna come back and then, but you know, "I have a lot of self-doubt. Um, a lot of it, especially with all the doctors, talking to me every single time like about like, oh, it's so bad. It's this and that. It's the worst I've ever seen. But, um, it kind of came during my recovery process. So "I was scheduled to get surgery, and "I think it was like six to eight weeks following the injury, maybe even four, four to eight weeks. We'll call it "I. Think it. prior to getting that surgery because that bone was broken, so they had to wait for the bone to heal before they could take all the grafts and put all the screws and nuts and bolts in, to, you know, restructure all these ligaments. So about four to six weeks in "I was given like all these physical therapy exercises to do before "I actually started the surgery, before the surgery happened. While my bone. and "I mean every single day. "I was doing like simple things, "I just moving my foot around, keeping it stationary, icing it, doing the, the compression work and stuff. And just, uh, really trying to become like a student of the game. Like how can "I get, how can "I be my best self even in this position? And then about four weeks comes around and my mom hands me a phone. I'm in, um, I'm once again on the couch. "I can't get upstairs still after four weeks. "I, "I wasn't walking at all, obviously. And my mom hands me a phone and she's like, it's Dr. It's Dr. Champs. "I was like, "I, don't wanna talk to Dr. Champs. "I don't want to hear more, like terrible news. "I like, "I told him, I'm gonna get the surgery and it's over with him. and then he was, she's like, no. It's like good news and "I call. and then Dr. Cham is on the phone with me and he's like, "I, don't think I'm gonna give you surgery. in four more weeks, he said "I. "I called some of the, the leading orthopedic surgeons at Rush and "I showed them, you know, your updated MRIs that you just took a few days ago. And, um, all these different results in your mobility and stuff. And, um, "I think you're making like a, an incredible recovery already. And "I think your bone is starting to heal itself as well. And. He's like, "I, think you should be good to go without surgery. Like, he's like, we may do your meniscus still. just to keep that down the meniscus and cut part of the meniscus off that was hanging. But he said, in terms of your ligaments and, and your bone, all that is actually healing itself when it really shouldn't be. after that Convers. I'm thinking I'm, I'm a hundred percent committed to getting back to playing football if "I don't need the surgery. "I said "I will be playing football either by the end of this year and I'm gonna make it to that game. "I was thinking in my head, or, you know, it's gonna be, next year, and it ended up being next year. Obviously, it was very unrealistic for me to make it back my junior season, even though "I, you know, "I hoped for it. but yeah, and then it just kind of snowball effect. Just continued to be a student of the game. "I never had the surgery and just, um, kind of was working on healing myself and "I ended up working out.

Luke: 17:13

The doctor referenced the ligaments healing themselves, and that should not happen. "I mean, did he give any insight like, this is a medical miracle. I've never seen this before. "I mean, what was his insight on that?

Vinnie: 17:26

yeah, he had never, he had never seen something like this before. and one thing "I and, and what "I think "I agree with him is, is that like the ACL and "I could be completely wrong. You know, I'm not a doctor, but, um, what "I remember him telling me and what "I remember, the theory being is like the ACL obviously doesn't heal on its own. Like once your ACL's gone, it's gone. Um, it doesn't have its own blood supply. But all this blood, this rich blood that was flown in there from the broken bone, all these other ligaments that had the blood supply, it was just flooding the entire. and you know, obviously like some of the stuff that "I was doing, keeping it still icing it, taking down some of that swallowing, letting everything circulate, kind of, let it sort of the, the body, you know, go through its course and, fix itself.

Luke: 18:06

Talk about the recovery and, and the PT "I know you were obviously very dedicated to what you need to get done in terms of therapy and the recovery that was suggested. So walk our listeners through what your daily routine was cuz "I know coming back from any knee injury is very rigorous.

Vinnie: 18:28

Yeah, it, it was absolutely devastating. And it was, yeah, like you said, rigorous. So the most devastating part for me is that, you know, you go from being like a super healthy 16, 17 year old kid. "I mean you were in the weight room with me, we're all lifting a defensive lineman. Um, "I was probably one of the healthiest I've ever been in my life. Um, you know, squatting, benching, deadlifting, big. and then "I go to the PT room and "I can't even walk anymore. "I didn't walk for the first three months and doing the most simple exercises, and my body "I could just feel it deteriorating. "I couldn't work out. Um, and you see all that progress being lost, but you know, still holding some faith. just doing the, the simple workouts and taking it step by step. Like just even just going to PT at the start and just going there to move my ankle around for, you know, the entire hour. Or, getting like a massage on my leg for an entire hour, like not doing anything. You see your body deteriorating and, you know, "I remember like my PT progressed after three months, "I finally walked for the first time, and excruciating pain. Um, something that you never expect from someone who's, you know, walks all the. but like after you haven't walked in a long time, like the bones in your foot and all your muscles and stuff, like feel an immense amount of paint trying to press you off the ground and move. So "I barely had any balance. "I felt like a little baby giraffe walking around and "I was like, man, how did "I get in this position? coming from the, you know, varsity football to, you know, having someone help me to walk around, to walk 10 feet away and um, you know, just con continued progressing. So "I went from that to, you know, let's walk around the building one. let's, you know, actually try and bend your leg and take your heel to your butt, basically. and just, um, continue to do stuff like that. And then "I, "I slowly progressed. And "I went to my first facility, actually, which was in Highland Park, "I Believe, and they got me on a zero gravity treadmill. So it was a treadmill that basically blew up like a balloon, and you're like half in the balloon and it picks you up off the ground. So you're like 10% of your body weight. And that was the first time "I had ran again after, you know, that was at like the, uh, five month. And then once "I could run again, you know, "I pushed the, the physical therapist all the time. "I was like, yeah, make my weight heavier, make me heavier, make me heavier. "I could do it, "I could do it, "I can do it. And just pushing through that. And once "I was able to, you know, run on my own body weight and stuff. And then they sent me to the, the next facility and "I started doing stuff like pistol squats, RDL stuff. And then once "I was there, "I found, um, you know, a trainer "I really. Someone who, you know, comes from an athletic background as well, who is really like, Hey, you know, it might take, they're saying it's like another six months. He's like, "I know you, you know me. He's like, "I, come from an athletic background. "I know what you want. and he's like, let's do this quickly and let's get through this, and, and you're gonna be strong. He's like, it's gonna be harder, it's gonna take more time. But, got through it then and, and continued doing, like "I said, those pistol squats, some of the harder exercises. And then "I was on the field within, nine months back for

Luke: 21:12

Yeah. Yeah. And let, let's save that moment cause we obviously have to talk about getting back on the field cuz that's the culmination of this that everybody's wait, waiting to hear about. But before we do, you did reference your pt, I'm sure there were dark moments. Throughout this recovery process, no matter how much you believed in yourself, we all have 'em. And like you said, just how mentally challenging it was for you to go from healthy "I, have the world at my fingertips, 17 year old to now I'm literally in a wheelchair. So talk about that support system and let's start with. your coaches and your teammates, and we're gonna go through kinda like a three-tiered support system that "I think helped you through this process because that's really what this podcast is, is about, positive leadership, the power of belief, and the idea of being able to go find our best selves and "I. Think it wasn't football that helped you discover your best self "I really. It was this moment, Vinny, that helped you really find out who you were as a person, how great you can be. So how did your coaches and your teammates help you through this and how did their positivity and, and their check-ins and their belief in you help you?

Vinnie: 22:25

Yeah. So, from, you know, a, a friend standpoint, like other teammates on the team, "I, "I mean, they stood behind me in every step of the way. um, "I, remember like some of my buddies, like Galus was pushing me around on a wheelchair, making sure "I still be, was able to come to the games. and "I think that was a huge part of it too. You know, everyone wanted me at the games. Everyone was writing stuff down on their tape or putting in their Instagrams and stuff and all this saying like, for Vinny, this and that. Like, get back and, everyone made sure like "I got to the games and when "I was at the games, "I was comfortable at the games. And "I think that was a huge part of like that inspiration for me because like, when you get distance away from the. and you're just doing PTs. You kind of forget what your goal is. You kind of forget what the goals are. You know, you're so far away. but you know, the, the urge that, you know, my buddies had to get me back out there even on the sideline in my wheelchair and, you know, they'd get me the blankets and stuff and, and make sure "I was pushed around, but made sure "I saw the entire game. and, you know, that was just, um, uh, amazing for me and one of the best parts about it, being able to see that goal right in front of me and say like, Hey, I'm gonna get back here and I'm gonna be able to do it with you guys. And, you know, thinking in my head like, Hey, "I can get back with my friends too, and play, you know, the game that "I love as well. And you know, it all culminates. And "I think as well, just the, the coaches too. "I. Think Lake "I is a, is a special town, you know, a smaller town. It's very relationship based and, you know, the coaches emulate that. Um, "I had, you know, a very close relationship with like every single one of the coaches. and every single one of the coaches checked in on me, made sure "I was doing okay. You know, personally messaged me like yourself. and that was also like me thinking in my head like, Hey, "I got like the entire coaching staff behind me too. like I'm not, I'm not alone in what I'm doing and, you know, there's faith, there's people behind me that are pushing for me to do it. So that was just a absolutely huge part as well as, you know, that third tier being like, you know, my family as well

Luke: 24:07

Yeah. And before we get into to the family piece, that's just great insight about you being present at games and still feeling a part of it and how that inspired you. Because again, talking from the lens of a coach. Injuries are really tough because you're trying to still put your team in the position to go when you still have other kids to coach, but you know, you have someone behind that you wanna take care of as well. And, and when they're not around, they, they don't feel a part of it and you just. You basically just echo what "I always felt was just so important, and that is get the injured athlete back around his or her team. It is so important that they realize that they still are a part of it because when we know we're a part of something larger, that's when we're gonna really have purpose. "I mean. It really helps give purpose and also at that moment in time in your life, that's your identity. "I don't think. Necessarily correct, to be honest with you, but it's the reality that high school athletes tend to live in that identity of this is who "I am, right? I'm a I'm a high school football player, and you don't even know who else you are outside of that, nor are you ready to figure that out yet. So that's really, really good insight. And we definitely are gonna talk about Your family. But before we do, let's now talk about the doctors and the physical therapist. You've already referenced one. "I know from talking to you back in this moment of time in your life, they too although they hit you with some grim realities, They were very inspirational and helped you through this as well. So talk a little bit about that process with the medical professionals.

Vinnie: 25:43

Yeah. "I, "I, "I lucked out, with the physical therapist and "I had 'em like right at the exact moments that "I needed 'em, like and "I. Think the personality of the physical therapist like really matters. Um, so like when "I first entered physical therapy, once again, "I had never done physical therapy before, and "I was in a dark, dark place like "I. Like "I said, my body, my body was withering away. "I couldn't walk, "I didn't walked the months, and, you know, what "I needed was, you know, like, A kind, caring someone who's gonna be there. and "I had that, with this woman in the physical therapy And, you know, she was just the, the perfect amount of like, Hey, reality check, you're not gonna walk today. And, you know, tough on me, but also being like caring and, and, you know, really being there for me when "I was like, I'm really struggling with this. And, I can't do this anymore and it's hurting me. And this way "I not walking really bothered me. And you know, she just talked me through it the whole time. Like, it's okay. A lot of people feel like this. and this is typically what it is when you're injured and you, your body's gonna go away, but just understand, like the stuff I'm showing you and teaching you will get you back to where you need to be. So as long as you follow that process, you're gonna get there. Just keep focusing on what your goals are every day and, you know, don't let that darkness, you know, overwhelm you. And "I had that perfect amount of caring. Then once "I could walk, they sent me to the next facility. And "I, you know, "I once again got the, the perfect physical therapist. "I had a couple, um, ladies over there at the Highland Park. that were, you know, very, very calculated in their work and, and what they were doing. And that's exactly what "I needed. So they ran all these like anti-gravity machines and stuff, and "I needed the, you know, the science and calculations that they had behind their expertise in order to make sure "I got to that final level of being able to run again. So, you know, having that very calculated being like, we're gonna get you X, Y, Z with data every single day. So that was kind of that. weird point where, you know, stuff can go very wrong and where you're gonna need that, you know, that, data-driven approach. And then once "I could run again, "I got to that final round in Libertyville, like "I said, with the, with the physical therapist that "I, that "I absolutely loved. Kind of like a, a hardnosed kind of guy that's gonna get you where you need to go quickly. And that's what "I needed. Cuz when "I a literally hit the ground running, "I wanted to. So that's where "I got that final push to really, cut my time down on recovery and have that for me because when "I was ready to go, "I wanted to go, and "I had a person, that physical therapist, who was ready to take me there and do that with me. So "I had the, the perfect, sort of, uh, orchestra of people along the way to kind of get me where "I needed.

Luke: 27:59

And the last piece of that, or. Course your family. So how did mom and dad and your siblings handle this really tough time? Cuz I'm sure they wanted to support your dream of getting back on the field, but there's also the reality of "I. Don't know if we want to take the chance of what could happen.

Vinnie: 28:20

Yeah. Yeah. So "I mean, yeah, they were worried about it, but "I think, like, just with my parents, they just really wanted me to be happy and, you know, if, if that meant like getting on the field and possibly getting hurt again, it was gonna make me happy, like, to like be happy and do it. And you know, you might have to learn the hard way, but, you know, do it make what's gonna make you happy. But my mom was, my mom was a godsend. And even my dad too. Um, my mom's a stay-at-home mom, just like my, therapist, you know, did my laundry for me. Everything. Yeah. "I mean she's my travel agent now, everything. And so having, having my mom there for me and, you know, getting me, making sure "I could get to the shower and stuff and all that and, and making sure "I had food all the time, making sure. Get up from the couch and go somewhere to use the bathroom, whatever it was. my mom was, was there for me the whole time. She has no background in, in nursing or helping people and she just gave it her all a hundred percent. And seeing my mother give it her all and give it a hundred percent and like literally be sweating, trying to pick me up and get me out of there. She's a little woman. really pushed me and motivated me to, keep going. Like, I said, when you have an army behind you, it makes you want to go even faster. So, uh, having her around me and really trying so hard and to really get me back made me wanna do it even more. And, you know, having my dad there as well to, continue pushing me like "I said, and, and telling me like, you're gonna be good. You're gonna do this. Um, if you wanna get back on the field, like that's your goal. Hit it. Um, was perfect for the motivation and then having my. it's like that, that infrastructure behind me to, make sure "I got day to day and made sure "I was okay.

Luke: 29:45

And now "I have to set the stage a little bit for our listen. We are now approaching "I, don't know, maybe "I Wanna say about eight months out from the start of Vinny's senior season and we have morning workouts. Before school starts bright and early, started before 6:00 AM we, we actually started at 5:55 AM and Vinny was always there. It was unbelievable. He was at all the workouts and he would tell me at the workouts, coach, I'm gonna, I'm gonna be there. I'm gonna play my senior season. And "I have to be honest, "I don't know if "I believed it. Eight months. Of course, as the coach "I said, "I know you will, but "I don't know if "I truly believed it. And as "I saw you work, and as we kept getting closer and your mom would send me PT videos, "I started to go, man, maybe this kid is gonna play his senior season. "I. Remember being in the weight room and talking to you about, Hey "I, think "I. Think you are gonna get out there. And you're like, no, I'm gonna be out there. Like first Snap game one. And now "I was really getting nervous to the point where "I actually called your parents and said, "I might've been to "I, email "I know "I talked to your parents. Are you guys okay with this? Do you really want me to support this and push this? Because this is a really big dream and a really big goal. And he, and he's going all in on it. And they were a hundred percent, like you said, we support it. This is what he wants. We're gonna move forward with it. And then some local media started kind of hearing about the story and it kind of turned. A little bit of a local legend, like, is Vinny gonna be out there for the first game? And we're gonna fast forward now and get to that first game for the sake of time. And you were suited up and you're one of our team captains and we walk out. How did you feel? What did, what did that moment feel like? It's probably tough to put in the words, but here you are about the play. Not only your senior season, but the very first.

Vinnie: 31:44

Yeah, just a absolutely crazy moment. And the fact to to be named Team Cap "I didn't even like when you announced that "I was just like in awe, "I was like, "I was really served as like this inspiration to people. "I feel like "I, "I, "I wasn't really trying to, but "I was like so happy in class. that "I was able to like, get to that position, really inspire other people to, you know, push through if, regardless if they were starter or not, or if they were injured themselves, to kind of push through it and um, was like super happy to step in the middle of that field and take the coin toss for the team. You know, "I felt "I worked so hard for, but you know, it wasn't all sunshine rainbows. You know, "I, "I had like this macho mentality like, I'm gonna get back and I'm gonna do. And then when a push came to shove and "I was ready to get back and face, you know, a 250 pound left tackle with a knee brace, you know, there's a little bit of self-doubt that comes to your mind. You start thinking like, what if this happens again? And you know what, if this time I'm not, I'm not as lucky and this leg is gone, or "I, don't ever make it walk again. cuz that's the reality of what "I was facing. If it would've happened again, I would've been done walking. Probably my leg as well. And you know, you get that self-doubt once you actually hit that goal and you kicked into the deep end, you're like, you made it, now do it. So having that, and then, you know, once you get that first plane and second play, third, fourth, you're like, if you start getting like second nature again, it starts feeling like the, you know, the lights are back on. You just like your junior year again and you're playing again. And then from there, "I kind of hit the ground run and "I "I, uh, and continued.

Luke: 33:07

Yeah, "I "I. Can't imagine what your. Of debt. Your whole family was feeling at that first snap. "I know your coaches. We were "I mean. It was pretty quiet on the headset for that first snap cuz we just, no one knew what to expect and what was gonna happen. And you're right. As you got into the flow of the game, it started to feel. A little bit more normal. But with that said, "I, appreciate your honesty of "I put on this macho front. But deep down, "I had a lot of self-doubt because "I think that pertains to a lot of things in life. We tend to look outside of ourselves and we see other people and we, we tend to see them as so courageous and tough and gritty, and we don't realize that in most cases, they're. And they have the same self-doubt and the same dark moments that we have. So how did you get past that moment of, of that self-doubt when you're about to take that first series?

Vinnie: 34:09

Yeah. "I. "I just kind of had to, you know, "I reflected back a lot on what "I did. Um, so "I, "I thought back on, you know, my nine months of recovery time and like the, the steps I'd taken. "I had a lot of trust in, in, you know, my training and "I in these nine months, like "I had become a student of the game. Basically. "I knew everything about the anatomy of the knee, different types of injuries to the knee, you know, what different recovery processes look like, what could be the future damages and what that means like, for the rest of my life in terms like, what's a pop artery, what are these different ligaments and all that. And just, trusting the science to know like, okay, "I have some scar tissue now on these ligaments and it should hold pretty well. It's like, nearly the equivalent of the actual physical ligament itself. And, trusting the science behind it that "I taught myself and, and really trusting the, the training that "I had and reflecting back on some of those moments where "I was, you know, sweating out pistol squats or all these R Dls "I was doing and realizing "I spent months and months and months on this one leg, like, I'm gonna be okay. And "I gotta, you know, have some faith in myself cuz this was what my dream was and you know, now I'm gonna make it happen. Now that "I have the opportunity to do it.

Luke: 35:14

And looking back at it, what do you attribute to this story? Was it. Dumb luck that your ligaments grew back the way that they did. Was it a miracle of God? Was it just meant to be "I mean? What do you take away from what was probably up to that point, and maybe still is now one of the toughest moments in your life?

Vinnie: 35:35

Yeah, "I. Think it. It was a bit of a miracle. Like "I think "I think God played a role. and "I also think it was a, a lot of what "I had done for myself as well. I took physical therapy in incredibly seriously, Like "I said, "I learned everything possible. about the, the knee, the leg, and you know, looked up all these different things, even beyond my physical therapy of what "I can do personally to, you know, better this injury and help it. And, you know, that alone couldn't have done it. So "I think there was something else out there. Maybe it was a miracle by God, maybe it was something else. But, um, really sticking to my training regimen and going above and beyond. even what they were telling me to do. So I'd do my physical therapy at the place and I'd go do it again at home and then do some other exercises that "I could, that "I dreamed up or, or thought about given like some of the research "I was doing on the injury and what "I thought could work. So "I think it was like that, that perfect culmination of, the right people around me training me, getting me back, you know, myself, pushing a little bit beyond the, you know, what "I was expected to do, and then a little bit of that miracle, from whatever happened in these, these ligaments that typically don't heal coming.

Luke: 36:36

majority of our listeners are coaches. And what would be your advice to our listeners when they're going through a situation? Hopefully nowhere near as severe as your injury, but. As coaches, we deal with a lot of a c l injuries and people that are out for a long time. What's the advice you would tell our listeners what they need to do and how they need to support their athletes going through these injuries?

Vinnie: 37:02

Yeah. "I, "I. Think like, like you said, yourself, "I think it's like making them still feel like they're a part of the team. keeping them away from, you know, their, their future goal is always to play. Like you said, a lot of these people, even myself, have like their identity as football. And when you take that identity away from them, that you take 'em into a dark place, they don't really see what that goal is anymore. And it honestly doesn't help with the training. so, you know, getting 'em out there and just being behind them every single step of the way, like, you feel so alone when you're hurt and you're injured and like, you know, having other people around you really makes you feel like everyone's got their eyes on me, they care about me. "I better make this happen. Um, "I think another thing is like, you know, setting goals and checking in on, you know, Your players if they're hitting these goals. Like for me it was am "I gonna walk after three months and then it was am "I gonna run after six and then it's gonna be like, can "I do a pistol squat and you know, R DLS and all this stuff by nine and go play again. Um, so, you know, having people around you that are checking in on you, making sure you're hitting these goals and, um, being along you every step of the way and building great relationships, "I think is like one of the, the best things that helped me through this. Uh,

Luke: 38:05

Yeah, that, that's great advice. "I really like the check-in points. "I think it would be great for coaches to understand what. The athlete's goal is, and help just like no different for the, the ones that aren't injured. You wanna hold them accountable to their goal, so, If you say, Hey, "I, wanna be able to run in six months as a coach, be having these checkpoints of, Hey, are you on pace to get there? And it could be, and correct me if I'm wrong, if Fannie, it could be just a text message, it could be something as simple as that, just to make sure, are you staying on your goal? Right? So keeping people on their path "I, think that's really, really good advice. And uh, we'd be remiss not to talk about where you're at right now in life. That's still with us listening, I'm sure wants to know where Vinny Panco is in 2023. Here we are six years later. So tell us where we're at right now, what's going on, with your life as now you're an adult.

Vinnie: 38:59

yeah, yeah. So, like "I said, "I "I became a student of the game during the injury in, uh, relating to science and health. and "I know "I "I took that with me. "I "I got into Berkeley, uh, my senior year, and, um, instantly went over here chasing, you know, some of these Nobel laureates in science. And two of 'em actually ended up being my professors, but, kind of took that same, I'm gonna get it fast mental. "I graduated from, uh, three years from Berkeley with a degree in molecular biology, um, with an emphasis in neuroscience. "I, actually fortunate enough to be named a salutatorian for 2022 in, uh, my neuroscience class, and, um, went off from there and, you know, stuck around in the, the private science space, so the industry space. So started a bioinformatics company selling to biotech companies with a few of my fraternity brothers from Cal. "I ended up doing well, kind of taking some of my interpersonal skills and, you know, science skills into one role. "I started the business development arm for them and, you know, did really well. "I raised 32 million from CO2 and Luxe Capital to, pursue that and pursue our, SAS software platform. Um, sort of a blessing and a curse after that. And, kind of felt like, you know, maybe "I could do something with my own research. Cause "I was actually a researcher at. and, uh, kind of followed from there and, and left them to start my own company. Um, Nissan Bios, a medical device company basically off a discovery. "I had made showing, you know, ultrasounds, control over pain neurons. You know, "I dealt so much with pain in my career as a football player. "I thought about, chronic pain and new ways to do it, and "I found a non-invasive way to do it using ultrasound. So, kind of going through the gambit now of patent related issues and, and intellectual property with the university, making it sort of hard to pursue. But, um, "I applied to medical school nonetheless. So "I still waiting to hear back from medical school. "I recently applied. but hopefully going to maybe do both at the same time and, you know, stick in that, in that medical scene or private scene and, and continuing to kind of reflect on these experience and, and push through these kind of things.

Luke: 40:51

it's a heck of a journey. "I. Really appreciate you. Your story because it's very inspiring and "I think it's one that anyone who listens, again, a lot of the listeners are coaches and teachers, but really any fan of the show who listens is gonna walk away. Realizing how powerful belief in self really is, and "I think that is something that is being lost a little bit. We tend to become a little bit more pessimistic on people in today's world. Maybe just because we see so much bad stuff on the 10 o'clock news. I'm not sure. But hey, that's, that's kind of what what we're doing here with the podcast is reminding that, what we do and how we treat other people. Really does matter and you look at like the doctors and the PTs and how that motivated you and impacted you to the point that, hey, "I will, "I am going to go study science and I'm going to study medicine. So What came out of a catastrophic situation ended up being a really great story. And the, the Vinny Panco story still is many more chapters ahead, but that's a big part of your story and why you are now gonna eventually be Dr. Panco someday. Right. So thank you so much for, for sharing that and, uh, taking us inside, really a, a very personal experience. Because again, "I think a lot of people can learn from your story, so thanks, Vinny.

Vinnie: 42:15

Yeah. Thank you so much. No "I. Hope it was insightful and I'm happy to answer any more questions that anyone has about the whole thing. Um, feel free to contact me, but yeah, "I, hope it was insightful and "I. Yeah, "I. Can't thank you enough for letting me, uh, share the entirety of the story.