Tyjha Henderson has always been a fierce competitor, and has worked hard to do well both in sports, at school and in all activities she participates in. Her competitive drive helped her hit her first over-the-fence home run at age 10, and earned her a spot on the Cloquet High School junior varsity softball team, as well as the Twin Port Rampage travel softball club.

Now, her competitive spirit is helping her come back after the toughest battle of her life.

In June 2020, 13-year-old Henderson was hit by a car while riding her bike in Cloquet. She suffered just one broken rib, but was unconscious from a brain injury. It took time, but Henderson eventually woke up and started responding to her name and following simple instructions, like squeezing a finger. Then came the hard part.

Henderson has had to re-learn how to do everything from walking to eating to going to the bathroom. As she eventually graduated from inpatient therapy – often eight hours per day – to outpatient therapy, her strength slowly returned.  She only had one goal in mind – get back to the softball field and her team. She initially wanted to work towards playing basketball again, but doctors told her that was too risky, so now her sole focus is softball.

Henderson worked hard in therapy to regain her motion, her words, her strength and her sense of confidence to hit the field again. Her family recently moved to Topeka, Kansas, and she is currently part of the Royal Valley High school softball team, as well as the Next Level Fastpitch travel softball club. She is a freshman at Royal Valley and a member of the honor roll after recording straight As in the Spring 2021 semester.

Henderson continues to work through the aftereffects of a traumatic brain injury – something she will always live with – but she doesn’t let it stop her. And she certainly won’t let it keep her off the field and away from the game that she loves.