Back pain can be among the worst kind for any athlete to endure, but for Briana Bodner, a bout with it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. 

Now a Hough High junior, the left-handed Bodner is playing her second season as the Huskies’ top-seeded tennis player. She was last year’s I-Meck Conference singles champion and a regional qualifier and has high hopes as this fall’s season warms up. And if she appreciates the game more than most young ladies, there’s a reason.

She learned how fragile life can be as she completed the eighth grade.

Bodner, at that time, was experiencing muscle pains in her back so often and so severe that she sought medical attention. That led to tests and scans of all kinds, and it was during one such exam that something abnormal was discovered in one of her kidneys. It resembled a balloon or bubble, and it turned out to be an aneurysm, a bulge in an artery caused by the weakening of the vessel.

People often associate aneurysms with the brain, but one in a kidney? It was hard to believe, for everyone involved, especially since Briana was being examined for something entirely unrelated. 

“It was really amazing that they found it,” says Bodner’s mother, Jeannine.

Aneurysms are uncommon in kidneys, so much so that most doctors notified of the findings were skeptical. The diagnosis initially caused doubt among specialists from Duke to New York.

Briana’s father, Russ, was shocked, too. As a neurologist in Concord, he deals with aneurysms on a regular basis. But not in kidneys, and not in his own daughter.

That back pain began the process for finding the aneurysm was unusual. That’s not how you would draw it up, but it worked out.

“It was almost like a godsend,” says Jeannine. “With an aneurysm, you don’t get any heads up.”

Briana had successful surgery to repair the aneurysm at Duke, and a dangerous situation was resolved. 

Active lifestyle

Briana’s recovery took about three months. She was not allowed to participate in any physical activity, and for a young lady who is in constant motion on the tennis court, that time period may as well have been three years.

“She really missed it because she’s pretty active,” says Jeannine.

But once Briana returned to the court and to a normal, everyday life, she was rejuvenated. And more than two years later, she remains upbeat and active.

“I think she has an appreciation for what she has,” says Jeannine.

Briana’s appreciation often begins before sunrise. Twice a week, she has a morning tennis training session at River Run’s tennis academy. It begins at 5:45 a.m. That makes the opening bell of school just after 7 a.m. a piece of cake. She’s fresh off a workout and wide awake by then.

After school, Briana plays matches or practices with Hough and then takes part in evening sessions at the academy three times a week. She takes private lessons and plays in tournaments on the weekends. Many days, she is playing tennis for more than four hours. In the summer, she spent five hours a day on the court.

“I enjoy it,” says Briana. “My consistency is picking up a lot, and I see myself getting a lot better.”

Briana is 4-2 in singles play following a win at Hopewell Monday. Hough coach Julie Fox has been impressed with how her No. 1 player has returned this year.

“She’s stepped up her game,” says Fox. “She’s playing harder. She’s playing smarter, and she’s just playing better.”

Briana aspires to play in college, but has some goals to accomplish first. She reached the second round of the 4A West Regional singles tournament and saw what that level of competition entails. She’s expecting to make a return trip and advance deeper in the bracket this season.

“After last year, my confidence just picked up a lot, and it gave me the motivation to keep getting better and do it again this year,” she says.

Occasionally after a shot, Briana will feel another sting of pain in her back. It’s no longer a hindrance, but rather a reminder to persevere and play the next set.

In tennis and in life.