02/25/2026
High school athlete Sophia Kallabat has played hockey and swam for almost her whole life, so she chalked up several injuries – including a shoulder injury – to the physical demands of year-round training. But when she dislocated her kneecap shortly after (while walking, no less!) it signaled a deeper issue might be at play.
Sophia met with Dr. Patricia Kolowich, our sports medicine and orthopedic surgeon who is also team doctor for the Detroit Red Wings. Dr. Kolowich discovered Sophia’s injuries were due to hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), a connective tissue disorder that causes joints to be overly flexible and more prone to injury.
“Her joints were too loose, which made them unstable and more likely to dislocate, even during everyday activities,” says Dr. Kolowich. “Because of the severity of her knee injury and the underlying connective tissue condition, surgery offered the best chance to stabilize her knee and protect her long-term mobility.”
While this meant Sophia would miss her freshman year of sports at Mercy High School, Sophia’s mom Victoria says they’re grateful Dr. Kolowich identified her underlying condition.
“She was the first doctor who really looked at the whole picture of Sophia’s medical history and recognized her condition was contributing to her injuries,” Victoria says. “This could have gone undetected for years. Finding this out was a really big deal for us.”
Throughout her recovery, Sophia relied on the consistent presence of Marnie Hawes, an athletic trainer at both Henry Ford Health and Mercy High School. (We provide certified athletic trainers at more than 30 high schools across metro Detroit, who work closely with student athletes to prevent injuries, recognize problems early on and coordinate the appropriate care.)
“It’s so comforting to have Marnie available as a resource,” Sophia says. “If something happens, she’s right there to guide us. She always goes out of her way to help and it means a lot.”
After recovering from knee surgery, Sophia sustained 2 concussions - one from hockey and another from a car accident. But again, Sophia was resilient. After working with her care team to ensure a safe and structured return to play, her team went on to win the Division II Swimming and Diving State Championship.
Read Sophia’s full story: https://bit.ly/4ayJdP9
