My husband and I moved with our four boys to Falls Church City 15 years ago for the reason many do, “we moved here for the schools.” We felt it was important for our boys to attend a good academic school system that was smaller than the typical large Northern Virginia public school system. A smaller school system meant teachers and administrators would know our boys by name, and they would have a shot at making the sports teams (as a former college Division I athlete, that was important to me).

I did not get involved in the school system for the first few years we lived in the city, but eventually, someone approached me and asked me to serve as the next president of the Elementary PTA.  I agreed and loved it. After that, I joined the Board of the Falls Church Education Foundation, and within a year, I found myself running for the Falls Church City School Board. I won the election and served a four-year term. Notably, half of my term was served during the Covid pandemic. My colleagues elected me to serve as Vice Chair in 2021 and as Chair in 2022 and 2023.  After my term ended, I was encouraged to run in a special election for the Falls Church City Council and won the election in November 2024.

But above all else, I am a mom. 

In the Fall of 2023, our second son, 6’5”, 290-pound Mathew, signed a letter of intent to play football at Franklin and Marshall College. Just weeks after his commitment to F&M and in the middle of applying for an Army ROTC scholarship, he ruptured his ACL on Senior Night. Mathew stayed positive, but my husband and I were devastated — worried he would miss out on his double dream of playing college football and participating in Army ROTC.

Enter Vicki Galliher. “Coach G,” as she is affectionately referred to, has served as the Sports Medicine Director at Meridian High School for over 21 years. She is also the head athletic trainer and is on the field for every home football game and games of other injury-prone sports such as basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer.

Immediately after Mathew’s injury, Coach G jumped into action, taking him off the field in a golf cart and explaining to my husband and me what we needed to do overnight and where to take him. She suspected a torn ACL and meniscus could be the problem. Coach G continued to text, call, and email over the next few days to check on Mathew while we waited to see a doctor. Coach G’s diagnosis was correct, and Mathew was scheduled for ACL reconstruction surgery a few weeks later. Coach G explained to Mathew that it was vital to get his injured leg as strong as possible before the surgery so that after the surgery, the muscle atrophy would be less severe.

Coach G worked with him from Monday to Friday to strengthen that leg. After the successful surgery several weeks later, Mathew began rehabilitation with Coach G five days a week at no charge to our family. Even more important than the free care was that this was someone who deeply cared about Mathew and his future success. On days when he would become frustrated, she would remind him of the ultimate goal- college football and Army ROTC (he did indeed receive that scholarship). Though he was selected for the baseball team, he had to stay on the bench. He asked to have just a few opportunities to be a designated hitter, and again, Coach G reminded him that one awkward pivot while batting could end his dreams of college football and ROTC. During this time, Mathew came to rely on Coach G so much that she was often the only adult he would listen to regarding his recovery.

We visited with the orthopedic surgeon several times during Mathew’s rehab, and each time, the surgeon said to us, “Mathew is ahead of schedule. Remind me—who is doing his rehab!?”  He was very impressed with Mathew’s progress and equally impressed that it was thanks to our high school athletic trainer.

In August 2024, well before the one-year mark of his surgery, Mathew was fully cleared by his surgeon for full participation in football and ROTC training. He had a great first season of college football and has found his Army training challenging and fulfilling.

To thank Coach G, we quietly made a monetary donation to her training room. Clearly, no dollar amount is high enough to fairly compensate her for all she did for our son. We will be forever in her debt.