This semester is looking a little different for Morningside student, Matthew O’Connell after taking a major spill. It was September 2nd and Matthew had just finished up his political science class with Professor Valerie Hennings in the Lincoln Center on campus, when he lost his footing and nearly dropped to the ground in excruciating pain.

Matthew originally was heading to work but changed courses and decided to hobble to the Mass Communications department where he could find some comfort sitting down and call his dad Mark O’Connell who works at the college in Lewis Hall. After calling his dad, the pair rushed Matthew to Unity Point Hospital in downtown Sioux City.

After arriving at the hospital Matthew’s initial x-ray showed no breaks and he was sent home with a boot and some crutches to ease the pain.

Little did he know two days later Matthew would receive an alarming phone call from the hospital saying he needs to come in for an MRI immediately.

“When you hear a sense of urgency in the doctors voice over the phone you automatically assume the worst.” Matthew said.

A few days later Matthew’s MRI results showed that he had a torn achilles tendon. The doctors plan went from rest and crutches to boot therapy and a second MRI in a week to determine if the tendon is healing on its own or if he will have to endure surgery.